By Gabriel F. Cordero
This Saturday, September 26, the UFC presents an event at the Apex in Las Vegas headlined by a bantamweight bout between 21-year-old Mexican-American Raúl “El Niño Problema” Rosas Jr. (12-1) and the experienced Brazilian Raoni Barcelos. Rosas entered with six consecutive wins and Barcelos with five, demonstrating why both were selected for this main event.
Raúl Rosas Jr. entered the UFC world at age 17, becoming the youngest fighter to earn a contract after participating in *Dana White’s Contender Series*. At 18, he became the youngest fighter to debut and win in the UFC, and he has since become the fighter with the fifth-most takedowns (32) in bantamweight history.
The 39-year-old Brazilian Barcelos has remained relevant and competitive, boasting a record of 22 wins in 27 fights on the circuit. He is known for high-intensity bouts and holds the record for the fourth-most judges’ decision victories (7) in the bantamweight division.
Betting markets indicate…
Raul Rosas Jr. is the slight favorite over Raoni Barcelos. Yazmin Jauregui is the night’s biggest favorite to defeat Vanessa Demopoulos, while other favorites include Rinya Nakamura over Brady Hiestand and John Castañeda against Alatengheili.
Main Bouts
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos (Bantamweight)
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)
Brady Hiestand vs. Rinya Nakamura (Bantamweight)
Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs. Ilimbek Akylbek (Bantamweight – *The Ultimate Fighter* Final)
Melissa Amaya vs. Valesca Machado (Women’s Strawweight – *The Ultimate Fighter* Final)
Josiah Harrell vs. Elves Brener at Lightweight
Preliminary Bouts
Rodolfo Bellato vs. Christian Edwards at Light Heavyweight
Montel Jackson vs. Ricky Simon at Bantamweight
John Castañeda vs. Alateng Heili at Bantamweight
Norma Dumont vs. Ailin Perez at Women’s Bantamweight
Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Yazmin Jauregui at Women’s Strawweight
