Raul Rosas Jr. keeps making history. Already the youngest UFC signee and youngest ranked UFC fighter, Rosas becomes the youngest fighter to headline a UFC card on Saturday. Raoni Barcelos, his opponent, knows a thing about beating young studs.
Rosas Jr. (13-1) is a phenom. Rosas signed his UFC contract at 17 and cracked the bantamweight rankings before his 22nd birthday. There was an early setback against Christian Rodriguez between those two milestones, but he got back on track by stacking wins and forcing his way into contention. Saturday's main event is another first, and the moment isn't lost on him.
"I'm ready to die in that cage on Saturday night," Rosas told CBS Sports' Brian Campbell. "No matter what happens, I'm ready to die. I'm pretty sure I could say the same thing about him. I feel I have a lot to lose, but I have a lot to win, and I feel the same thing about him. If he loses to me, where does he go? And if I lose to him, my dreams of becoming a UFC champion could fade away, so I can't let it fade away that easily."
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Barcelos (22-5) has taught many young fighters important lessons. The 39-year-old enters Saturday on a five-fight win streak with each victory over a younger opponent. That includes Payton Talbott, who entered their fight as a massive betting favorite and now co-headlines UFC 332 next week. When most fighters experience decline, Barcelos seems to get better.
"I compare to wine," Barcelos said. "I think I age like fine wine."
Rosas, 21, has lofty plans to become UFC champion and retire by 25. It reeks of the stubborn confidence of a fighter who has been competing since his teens. Rosas has largely succeeded, but Barcelos believes some lessons can't be skipped no matter how talented the prodigy.
"He hasn't walked through the same path that I have had, and I think he is still going to have some roadblocks in the way during his career," Barcelos said. "I have seen a lot, and I have fought five rounds three times in my career [on the regional scene] and can tell you. I think I am the problem for him; I don't think he is a problem for me."
Saturday night also features plenty of action on the undercard. A very spicy women's bantamweight showdown is set between Norma Dumont and Ailin Perez. The two have been at each other's throats all week trying to gain a mental advantage over the other. The winner of Saturday's co-main event figures to be in prime position to secure a title shot at the winner of Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison, which takes place in November.
Plus, new signing Luis Hernandez makes his debut against Sedriques Dumas. Hernandez, who gain notoriety on the regional scene when he scored a TKO win over a teammate of Sean Strickland and then celebrated with a crotch chop in Strickland's direction, which infuriated Strickland to the point of Strickland entering the cage and punching Hernandez. Hernandez scored a second-round submission of Hugo Guillon on Dana White's Contender Series 11 days ago and got the call for a short-notice bout after Mickey Gall was forced to withdraw with an injury.
Let's take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.
UFC Fight Night card, odds
| Favorite | Underdog | Weightclass |
|---|---|---|
Raul Rosas Jr. -155 | Raoni Barcelos +130 | Bantamweight |
Ailin Perez -155 | Norma Dumont +130 | Women's bantamweight |
Luis Hernandez -238 | Sedriques Dumas +195 | Light heavyweight |
| Mehemmedeli Osmanli -298 | Ilimbek Akylbek +240 | Bantamweight |
| Valesca Machado -238 | Melissa Amaya +195 | Women's strawweight |
UFC Fight Night viewing information
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (Main card), 5 p.m. ET (Prelims)
Location: Meta APEX -- Las Vegas
TV Channel: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as low as $8.99 per month)
Prediction
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos: At 39, you have to wonder when the bottom falls out for Barcelos. It hasn't yet. He's thrived as an underdog against younger opponents. Rosas gives Barcelos another matchup where his strengths are overlooked. Rosas' striking output is pitiful, putting enormous pressure on his wrestling to win rounds. Barcelos has an 87% takedown defense and spent entire camps preparing for elite grapplers like Umar Nurmagomedov and Ricky Simon. Rosas' takedown success will dictate the scorecards. If he gets Barcelos down, he should bank those rounds. But Barcelos should have a clear advantage whenever he keeps the fight standing. Rosas' cardio failed him against Rodriguez. He's improved since, but five rounds against a stubborn, seasoned veteran is a different test. Barcelos' age makes him difficult to trust, particularly over 25 minutes, but Rosas doesn't have the striking to punish him for slowing down. Expect a close fight with Barcelos stealing enough rounds on the feet. Pick: Barcelos via split decision
