Raoni Barcelos Still Awaits Answers After Cage Collapse
Raoni Barcelos still does not know what happened to him on September 26. During the fifth round of his UFC Vegas 121 main event against Raul Rosas Jr., the Brazilian suddenly went numb and lost consciousness and was taken away in an ambulance. Nearly three weeks later, he says he feels better every day, but doctors have yet to explain the episode.
The 39-year-old described a sudden illness in which numbness spread through his whole body. He remembers nothing after that until he came to in the ambulance and asked his father what had happened. Barcelos was reportedly ahead on the scorecards before Rosas Jr. won by TKO at 1:38 of the fifth round.
Tests, scans and strict limits
Barcelos is going through a series of tests in Las Vegas, including MRI scans and neurological evaluations, and he has been checking in with the UFC Performance Institute for rehabilitation and further examinations. He had another MRI on a Monday and was still waiting for the results, which he said are being kept confidential. His friend and mentor Glover Teixeira has said that doctors found some swelling in his brain. For now, Barcelos has been told to avoid head strikes for six months and to keep his heart rate within a safe range.
He has also said that his heart is doing well and that, after early treatment with medication, he no longer needs any medicine at all. He thanked everyone who prayed for his safe recovery.
Retirement not ruled out
Asked about his future, Barcelos admitted that stepping away has not been ruled out. He explained that athletes never want to stop, even when the body cannot take it anymore, and that everything is still too fresh to make such a call. "I want to make it clear right now that I don't want to stop," he said.
He has talked the situation over with his father, Davi Ramos, Andre Felipe and Teixeira, and all of them urged him to focus on recovery and leave the retirement question for later. Barcelos said he needs this time to figure out what comes next.