Raoni Barcelos has been waiting almost nine years for a UFC main event. When he finally gets one on Saturday, the 39-year-old Brazilian will share the cage with a fighter 18 years younger than him and ranked alongside him in the bantamweight division.Raul Rosas Jr. will headline UFC Fight Night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas against Barcelos, with both men arriving on five-fight winning streaks. Rosas is 21 and ranked No. 12, while Barcelos has climbed to No. 8 in the latest Meta UFC rankings.For Barcelos, the main-event opportunity has been worth the wait.“I am very happy. It is a different feeling from the others because I am having my first main event after so long – almost nine years in the organisation. Having this opportunity is very great for me. I am taking advantage of it and living it in the best possible way,” Barcelos told TimesofIndia.com.“I am really happy with this moment. After nine years in the organisation, I am really enjoying all the time. I deserve this opportunity; I have deserved it for a long, long time, and I am really happy with that opportunity. So I want to give my best there.”Five rounds will be new to him in the UFC, but not entirely new to his career.“I think I’ve been through everything in the organisation. I’ve already lost by knockout, I’ve already lost by points, I’ve already lost and got robbed, and I’ve already won in many ways. I’ve already been through very bad situations. I’ve already fought five rounds. It wasn’t in the organisation, but I’ve already fought five rounds and defended the title at the time of the RFA.“So these are things that I am now much more mature about. Facing Raul Rosas, who is only 21 years old, he still needs to go through some difficult things, and I think that’s the big difference.”
Five straight wins have changed the equation
Barcelos’ five-fight run includes wins over Payton Talbott, Cody Garbrandt, Ricky Simon and Montel Jackson. His most recent victory, a split decision over Jackson in April, extended the streak to five. Jackson dropped him early before Barcelos recovered and used his wrestling to get back into the fight.Rosas’ most recent fight was also a decision win, against Rob Font in March. He is 6-1 in the UFC and has built his game around wrestling and grappling. He has also recorded six submission wins in his 13 professional victories.Barcelos said the preparation for his last two opponents has helped him develop in the same areas that could be important against Rosas.“The difference was the striking. Montel was a very aggressive guy, so I had to use a lot of my wrestling.“Against Ricky Simon, I knew he had very good boxing, but he also had very sharp grappling and was very strong on the fence. So they were two completely different camps, but during all these fights, I am getting stronger in my wrestling and my grappling.“About these two camps, first of all, Montel Jackson was a good striker, and I was working a lot on my wrestling. Ricky Simon was a very aggressive fighter, and he also had really good grappling. I have been training and getting better in my grappling game, so that’s why I am getting better and better in every fight. That’s why I am ready for this fight.”
At 39, Barcelos wants the top five
The 39-year-old is now talking about the top five rather than simply trying to get back into the rankings. The current UFC rankings have him at No. 8, meaning a win over Rosas could put him within touching distance of the group he has been targeting.“I feel like fine wine, you know? I’m 39 years old, but I’m still young.“I’m still feeling young, you know? Training like I was 21 years old, and I feel good. So I don’t know when I can say to you when I’m going to stop fighting, you know, when I’m going to continue to fight. But after this fight, I want to be in the top five guys.“I want to face those guys, and then 100 per cent, soon I want to get the title shot soon. But before that, I need to pass this guy and beat him and be in the top five ranking.”
‘I’m the new guy’ in the bantamweight division
The timing gives the fight significance beyond the two places immediately beside their names. Barcelos does not see himself as an outsider to that group anymore.“I’m the new guy in the division. It’s funny to say because I’ve been in the division for a long time and everyone knows me, but I’m showing that I can be among the best.“So that’s my goal: to be fighting with them and to show more and more that this is possible.“Every fight here in the bantamweight division, they know me, and now I proved that I deserve to be where I am right now, and I want to continue there.“I’m the new guy in that division now. The top-five guys fight each other like this, but they need someone new, and I’m this new guy.”Watch UFC Fight Night – Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos on September 27, 2026, from 5:30 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD & Sony LIV.
