UFC Vegas 121 Predictions for Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos

UFC Vegas 121 takes place on Saturday, September 26, at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The card features 12 fights, and here are our predictions for each.

UFC Vegas 121 Main Card Preview & Picks

Bantamweight bout: Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos

The main event of UFC Vegas 121 features 21-year-old phenom Raul Rosas Jr. taking on 39-year-old veteran Raoni Barcelos.

Both men are riding five-fight win streaks at the moment, so this is a very important fight for each fighter as they try to show they are elite talents in the bantamweight division.

While Barcelos is an excellent fighter, you can’t ignore the massive age gap in this matchup, and that’s why you have to go with Rosas to win a decision.

Pick: Raul Rosas Jr. via decision

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Women’s bantamweight bout: Norma Dumont vs. Ailin Perez

The co-main event of UFC Vegas 121 is a pivotal women’s bantamweight bout between two of the division’s top fighters, Dumont and Perez.

Dumont saw her six-fight win streak snapped in her last fight against Joselyne Edwards, but she remains one of the toughest outs at 135 lbs.

As for Perez, she has won six straight fights and is likely one more big win away from fighting for the title in her weight class.

Fans can expect a close, competitive fight here between two women who are looking to get a title shot at 135 lbs, but I have to go with Dumont as I believe she can keep this fight standing and be the superior striker and win a decision.

Pick: Norma Dumont via decision

Light heavyweight bout: Luis Hernandez vs. Sedriques Dumas

In a short-notice light heavyweight bout, Hernandez is stepping up on just two days’ notice to fight Dumas after Mickey Gall was forced to withdraw due to health issues.

Hernandez just earned a UFC contract two weeks ago after a big win on Dana White’s Contender Series, and the matchmakers are already throwing him on a main card in the UFC, which shows you how high they are on him.

As for Dumas, he is winless in his last four bouts and figures to have difficulty in this matchup once again.

Look for Hernandez to win by submission in his UFC debut.

Pick: Luis Hernandez via submission

TUF bantamweight tournament finale: Mahammadali Osmanli vs. Ilimbek Akylbek

The TUF men’s bantamweight finale sees young phenom Osmanli take on Akylbek in an international affair.

While Akylbek is a solid talent, Osmanli is one of the best young prospects in the sport right now, and he should absolutely win this fight by submission.

Pick: Mahammadali Osmanli via submission

TUF women’s strawweight tournament finale: Melissa Amaya vs. Tina Black

In the TUF women’s strawweight finale, we have Amaya taking on Black in what should be a phenomenal fight.

Both women were incredibly impressive in the TUF house, and both fighters could very well be on the UFC roster for many years to come.

But in this particular matchup, I’m going with the underdog and predicting that Amaya upsets Black with a decision win.

Pick: Melissa Amaya via decision

UFC Vegas 121 Preliminary Card Preview & Picks

Bantamweight bout: Brady Hiestand vs. Rinya Nakamura

The featured prelim sees Hiestand return from a two-year layoff to take on Nakamura, who himself hasn’t fought in over a year.

Both men are talented bantamweights who have struggled to stay healthy, so this should be a good fight.

For a pick, I have to side with Nakamura, as I believe he can grind out a decision with his wrestling.

Pick: Rinya Nakamura via decision

Middleweight bout: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Robert Bryczek

Two veteran middleweights battle as Vieira takes on Bryczek in a true clash of styles.

Vieira, a BJJ wizard, will be looking to take this fight to the ground, while Bryczek will look to keep it standing and land the knockout blow.

In this particular matchup, I will lean towards the striker, Bryczek, to win by knockout.

Pick: Robert Bryczek via TKO

Light heavyweight bout: Rodolfo Bellato vs. Christian Edwards

We have two light heavyweights looking to get the knockout when Bellato matches up with Edwards.

Bellato is coming off a brutal KO win over Luke Hernandez in his last fight, while Edwards lost a close decision to Modestas Bukauskas in what was a failed UFC debut, so this is a tricky fight to predict given how the two men match up.

Ultimately, I have to lean on the side of UFC experience and take Bellato to win, likely by knockout.

Pick: Rodolfo Bellato via TKO

Lightweight bout: Elves Brener vs. Josiah Harrell

One of the toughest fights to predict on the entire card is this lightweight bout between Brener and Harrell.

Brener is riding a three-fight losing skid, but all three of the opponents he lost to are extremely dangerous, while Harrell lost his UFC debut up a weight class at welterweight against top prospect Jacobe Smith.

This fight can truly go either way, but I slightly lean towards Harrell as I believe he has the superior wrestling and can grind out a close win on the judges’ scorecards.

Pick: Josiah Harrell via decision

Bantamweight bout: Montel Jackson vs. Ricky Simon

A rematch that is eight years in the making sees Jackson take on Simon again.

The last time these two men in 2018, Simon won a unanimous decision over Jackson, but in this rematch in 2026, I lean towards Jackson to get revenge and earn a decision of his own.

Pick: Montel Jackson via decision

Bantamweight bout: John Castaneda vs. Alatengheili

Two bantamweight veterans meet when Castaneda takes on Alatengheili in a fight that feels destined to go the distance.

Both men enter this bout on winless skids, but Castaneda has been far more active in recent years, and I think this is a good matchup for him to win a decision and get back into the win column, while likely sending Alatengheili to the cut line.

Pick: John Castaneda via decision

Women’s strawweight bout: Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Yazmin Jauregui

Kicking off the card is what appears to be a mismatch between Demopoulos and Jauregui, who is the biggest favorite on the card at 10-to-1 odds.

With Demopoulos losing her last four fights in a row and Jauregui coming in here desperate to win after shockingly losing as a massive favorite in her last bout over two years ago, I like the Mexican to pick up a big win here with a decision nod to get back in the win column and likely send Demopoulos packing from the UFC roster for good.

Pick: Yazmin Jauregui via decision

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This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Sep 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Other Sports section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.