UFC commentator shocked by Raoni Barcelos' 'blackout' and details critical moment: 'The most frightening scene I've ever seen'

Raoni Barcelos lost to Raul Rosas Jr. in the UFC. Photo: Getty Images/Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

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The main fight of UFC Vegas 121 will not be erased from the memory of MMA fans and professionals anytime soon. At the event held last Saturday (26), Raoni Barcelos and Raul Rosas Jr. starred in a true battle, worthy of competing for the best of 2026 award, but the ending was frightening. In the fifth and final round, the Brazilian suffered a knockdown from his opponent and immediately passed out. As he witnessed the event firsthand, Paul Felder shared his experience.

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During his appearance on the 'Believe You Me' podcast, the former fighter and current commentator expressed shock at Raoni's 'blackout' and admitted he was terrified by the unfortunate event. Felder's account is impactful because, as a veteran of combat sports, he has witnessed frightening and shocking episodes.

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Therefore, Felder's reaction is yet another point that proves the seriousness of the moment experienced by the Brazilian in the octagon. After the fall, Raoni was unconscious, only regaining consciousness a considerable time later, leaving the octagon on a stretcher, being taken to the hospital for tests and continuing to be monitored. As could be expected, Felder showed great empathy and made a point of supporting the veteran.

“His neck was completely locked and he was unconscious. Immediately, I thought he had suffered a heart attack. Then they arrived and checked his pulse. It was terrifying. I've never seen someone knocked out where the first thing they did was the doctor put his fingers directly on Raoni's pulse.”

“I thought, ‘Wow, this is very serious.’ He just wouldn’t get up. I was thinking, ‘Could it be a stroke? A heart attack?’ That was, by far, the scariest thing I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve seen brutal knockouts, fighters knocked out for a while, who then regain consciousness.”

“Seeing someone being examined by doctors, checking their pulse, really puts the essence of this sport into perspective. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I truly hope he gets better. It was very sad to witness that.”

Official UFC update

“Following his struggle, Raoni Barcelos was immediately transported to a Level 1 trauma center for evaluation. The hospital's medical team performed a CT scan and a comprehensive assessment, and he is currently being monitored.”

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"Barcelos is stable, alert and responsive, with full mobility. He will remain under medical supervision. We will provide updates on his health status as soon as they become available."