UFC Vegas 121: Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos Bantamweight Main Event Bout - September 26 - 8 P.M. EDT
All odds provided by Powerplay.
Tale of the Tape:
| Category | Raul Rosas Jr. | Raoni Barcelos |
| Height | 5’9” (1.75 m) | 5’7” (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 135 lbs (61 kg) | 135 lbs (61 kg) |
| Reach | 67” (170 cm) | 67” (170 cm) |
| Age | 21 | 39 |
| Nickname | El Nino Problema | N/A |
| Fighting Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Significant Strikes Landed/Minute | 1.34 | 4.65 |
| Strikes Absorbed/Minute | 1.24 | 4.24 |
| Takedown Average | 6.10 | 2.51 |
| Takedown Defense | 25 % | 88 % |
| Current Ranking | No. 12 | No. 13 |
| Fighting Out Of | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Fight Analysis & Prediction
No. 12 Raul Rosas Jr. vs. No. 13 Raoni Barcelos Bantamweight Main Event Betting Odds
We’re not sure what the record is for the biggest age gap in a UFC main event, but this one has to be up there. At 21 years old, No. 12 bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. (12-1), is one of the youngest fighters in the promotion. On the other end, No. 13 Raoni Barcelos (22-5) is nipping at 40. A full 18 years separates the pair.
Nothing will separate them on Saturday as they lock horns at the Apex, however. They will both enter the octagon putting five-fight win streaks on the line that brought them into the UFC top 15 rankings.
But not all win streaks are created equal. Barcelos, who’s a fighter’s fighter that always empties the tank, is having a late career resurgence. Rosas Jr., meanwhile, is one of the most highly-touted young prospects in the sport. We’re surprised “El Nino Problema” is not a bigger favourite here considering he just dominated Rob Font.
He had 10 minutes of top control and dominated Font in that one, and we unfortunately see something similar happening again here against Barcelos. The elder fighter has a really solid 88 percent takedown defence, but even at 88 percent, a guy who shoots as much as Rosas is eventually going to break down the defences. He averages 6.10 takedowns per 15 minutes and had 16 against Font.
We would love to see Barcelos continue to turn back the clock and make this a fun fight. And if this was the main event of a Fight Night in front of a real crowd, I might lean more towards the experienced fighter.
But the Apex is essentially a controlled environment, so the 21-year-old Rosas Jr. won’t have to deal with any added pressure. The moneyline’s surprisingly reasonable here, so let’s keep it simple.
Best Bet: Raul Rosas Jr. Moneyline (-155)
