The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from UFC Vegas 121, a mixed martial arts (MMA) event scheduled for Saturday night, September 26, 2026. The event will be streamed live on Paramount+ from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The headline bout is a bantamweight clash between 135-pound contenders Raul Rosas Jr. and Raoni Barcelos, a five-round battle that has the potential to significantly impact the division’s top 10 standings.
Before focusing on the main and co-main events—the latter featuring a bantamweight women’s showdown between top-five fighters Norma Dumont and Ailín Perez—fans can explore Andrew Richardson’s “X-Factor” analysis of the full UFC Vegas 121 main card by following the provided link. Additionally, the latest betting odds and props for Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos are available through FanDuel, alongside live results and play-by-play updates.
135 lbs: Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos
Raul “El Niño Problema” Rosas Jr.
- Record: 12-1 | Age: 21 | Betting line: -165
- Wins: 2 KO/TKO, 6 submissions, 4 decisions | Losses: 1 decision
- Height: 5’9″ | Reach: 67″ | Stance: Switch
- Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 1.34 | Striking Accuracy: 42%
- Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 1.24 | Striking Defense: 52%
- Takedown Average: 6.10 (54% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 25%
- Current Ranking: No. 12 (media) | Last Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Rob Font
Raoni Barcelos
- Record: 22-5 | Age: 39 | Betting line: +135
- Wins: 8 KO/TKO, 3 submissions, 11 decisions | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 1 submission, 3 decisions
- Height: 5’7″ | Reach: 67″ | Stance: Orthodox
- Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.65 | Striking Accuracy: 51%
- Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.24 | Striking Defense: 60%
- Takedown Average: 2.51 (31% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 87%
- Current Ranking: No. 13 | Last Fight: Split decision win over Montel Jackson
At just 21, Rosas Jr. boasts a 12-1 MMA record and is 6-1 within the UFC. Though not officially listed in the Meta Rankings, media outlets place him just above Barcelos at No. 12. Known primarily for his wrestling dominance and submission hunting—with six submission wins in 12 victories—Rosas Jr. is unlikely to stray from his ground game after watching recent striking disasters like Gable Steveson’s knockout. His focus will be on securing takedowns; achieving just three would move him to No. 3 in all-time bantamweight takedowns. However, Barcelos also excels in wrestling, currently ranked eighth all-time in takedowns, making for a potentially intense grappling duel.
Rosas Jr. expressed his determination to make a statement not just by winning, but by achieving his career goals before stepping away from the sport in his mid-to-late twenties. Meanwhile, Barcelos has evolved from a promising prospect into a seasoned veteran over the past eight years, riding a five-fight win streak including upsets over high-profile fighters. While Barcelos’s experience and well-rounded skills make him a strong candidate in a three-round fight, neither fighter has previously competed in a five-round UFC bout. Considering Rosas Jr.’s youth and wrestling prowess, he is favored to edge the veteran in this extended matchup.
Prediction: Raul Rosas Jr. wins by unanimous decision.
135 lbs: Norma Dumont vs. Ailín Perez
Norma “The Immortal” Dumont
- Record: 13-3 | Age: 35 | Betting line: +130
- Wins: 0 KO/TKO, 2 submissions, 11 decisions | Losses: 1 KO/TKO, 0 submissions, 2 decisions
- Height: 5’7″ | Reach: 67″ | Stance: Orthodox
- Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.85 | Striking Accuracy: 50%
- Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 2.33 | Striking Defense: 64%
- Takedown Average: 1.43 (57% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 71%
- Current Ranking: No. 2 | Last Fight: Unanimous decision loss to Joselyne Edwards
Ailín “Fiona” Perez
- Record: 13-2 | Age: 31 | Betting line: -155
- Wins: 4 KO/TKO, 2 submissions, 7 decisions | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 1 submission, 0 decisions
- Height: 5’5″ | Reach: 66″ | Stance: Switch
- Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 2.88 | Striking Accuracy: 56%
- Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 1.58 | Striking Defense: 56%
- Takedown Average: 4.90 (49% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 72%
- Current Ranking: No. 4 | Last Fight: Unanimous decision win over Macy Chiasson
Though Dumont is coming off a loss, she remains ranked No. 2 in the bantamweight division due to her previous six-fight winning streak before falling to the No. 1 contender. Notably, Dumont has yet to finish a fight by knockout or submission at the UFC level despite a professional record of 13-3. She is known for a measured striking approach mixed with effective wrestling, but her attack scope is somewhat limited. Dumont pointed to personal animosity with Perez ahead of the fight but emphasizes maintaining focus on winning rather than getting distracted by outside distractions.
Perez enters as the betting favorite, largely due to her elite wrestling—she ranks No. 2 all-time in women’s bantamweight takedowns—and her ability to control opponents on the ground. While her striking is solid, it mainly serves to set up her powerful takedowns, as demonstrated by her domination of fighters like Ashlee Evans-Smith. Given that Dumont has struggled against top wrestlers recently and holds no finishes in UFC bouts, Perez is expected to control the fight.
Prediction: Ailín Perez wins by unanimous decision.
For more detailed predictions on the rest of the UFC Vegas 121 card, check the full analysis linked above.
Fan Take: UFC Vegas 121 showcases the emergence of young talent like Rosas Jr. challenging seasoned veterans such as Barcelos, highlighting the sport’s ongoing generational shift. Meanwhile, the women’s bantamweight clash features elite wrestlers battling for positional advantage, underlining how grappling remains a crucial pathway to success in modern MMA. These matchups offer fans a chance to witness potential division shake-ups with long-term implications for the UFC landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
