UFC Vegas 121: Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos Preview and Predictions

The UFC returns this weekend with a bantamweight showdown between rising contender Raul Rosas Jr. and resurgent veteran Raoni Barcelos. The card may be short on star power, but it gives several prospects and struggling veterans a chance to make a statement, while Rosas and Barcelos look to separate themselves in a crowded 135-pound division.

UFC Vegas 121 airs live on Paramount+ starting at 5 p.m. ET. Combat Press writers Matt Petela and Andrew Sumian preview the action this week.

Raul Rosas Jr. has won five straight fights since losing his first professional bout. Can he extend that streak against veteran fighter Raoni Barcelos?

Sumian: In all seriousness, who cares? Raul Rosas Jr. is boring, and there is nothing about his game that will make people tune in for this fight. He was once a fantastic prospect who looked eager to put on entertaining performances, but that was well over four years ago. The good thing is that he is still very young at the age of 21 and can certainly develop into a more complete and enticing fighter.

Raoni Barcelos is on a five-fight winning streak himself and is currently ranked No. 8 in the UFC Meta bantamweight rankings. The Brazilian has found a resurgence in his late 30s and is a difficult fight for anyone looking to climb the ladder at 135 pounds.

I do not particularly care about this fight, given that both gentlemen are decision machines as of late, and this will probably be a lackluster fight between two fighters who don’t particularly look to finish fights. Rosas Jr. by decision.

Petela: This is new school vs. old school if ever there was a new school vs. old school fight. These two both want to grapple and prefer to grapple so much more than strike that it won’t cancel out and cause this to be a stand-up clash. From the opening bell, they will both be looking to get this fight to the canvas and prove who is the superior grappler. Typically, it is the new school that is able to outwork the old school with speed and a lack of wear and tear on the body. That won’t be the case this weekend. Raul Rosas Jr. is a highly touted prospect who has rebounded nicely from his first unexpected loss inside the UFC, but there is something to be said about experience, and Barcelos has a ton of it at a high level. The Brazilian veteran will be able to withstand the early pressure attack of Rosas and, as he seems to do more often than not, find the smallest of openings to move from a defensive to an offensive position, where he will demoralize Rosas Jr. and find just a big enough opening to secure a submission victory.

Rodolfo Vieira has lost three of his last four fights. Does he keep his job by defeating Robert Bryczek?

Petela: Nope. Rodolfo Vieira is one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu players to ever make the transition to mixed martial arts and rise to the UFC level. However, he probably wasn’t ever a UFC-level MMA fighter. His submission game is otherworldly, but he hasn’t been able to round out his game in a significant manner. He struggles with his gas tank and managing his cardio throughout a 15-minute contest. He may have made the switch too late in his career, and had he begun fighting in mixed martial arts as a younger man, he may have had more success in the cage. However, as things happened, it did not lead to much success. This weekend, against Robert Bryczek, he will struggle to get a takedown early, and that will lead to him being out of position when Bryczek begins a punch combination. This one ends with Vieira looking up at the lights after a brutal knockout.

Sumian: These guys’ combined record in their last three fights is 2-4, and they are the co-main event for a UFC Fight Night in 2026. Sigh. I agree with my colleague on this one. Vieira does not look like he belongs in the Octagon, and this should make it three in a row to send him packing.

Which fighter’s UFC career is on the ropes at this event?

Sumian: John Castaneda. He is 0-2-1 in his last three fights and is not particularly exciting these days. Three in a row, and it is probably time to say goodbye.

Petela: Mickey Gall. Like a bad penny, he just won’t go away. He probably got pushed into the UFC too fast just to beat up CM Punk and didn’t have the time he needed to mature on the regional scene. His “big break” probably did more harm than good, and with another loss, it will likely be time for the UFC to cut ties with the New Jersey-born fighter.

Which fight is the sleeper matchup on this card?

Petela: That is a tough question this week. There aren’t many fights on this card that should make fans excited. However, the preliminary-card opener could be fun to watch. Yazmin Jauregui vs. Vanessa Demopoulos should be all action from the opening bell and might steal the show early.

Sumian: I always like watching Montel Jackson and Ricky Simon compete, so I will go with that. I’m not sure how these two are not on the main card, given that they are two out of four or five names that a casual fan might know, but oh well. Both should bring the heat and put on a fun three-round scrap.

Who takes home the “Performance of the Night” honors?

Sumian: Ailin Perez. I think she just might finish Norma Dumont and continue her great winning streak. Perez by submission.

Petela: Elves Brener. He needs a win badly. He is coming into this fight with Josiah Harrell on the heels of three straight losses, so his back is against the wall. Not many are predicting him to get the win, but his dangerous submission game makes him a live dog in any fight, and I think that he snatches Harrell’s neck and surprises the audience and UFC executives with a D’Arce or anaconda choke.

Pair this card with …

Petela: Brazilian barbecue. Raoni Barcelos shouldn’t beat Raul Rosas Jr. this weekend. This should be a changing-of-the-guard fight, with the new, younger grappling specialist taking out the grizzled veteran. However, we will see that experience matters in this one, and Barcelos will pull off something sneaky to celebrate with a staple of his home country. Load up on some high-quality meats to craft a delicious Brazilian-style barbecue dinner for you and the boys.

Sumian: Literally anything else there is to do on a Saturday. Case closed.