Traumatic brain injury caused Raoni Barcelos' medical scare at UFC Vegas 121

Debate regarding the scariest knockout in UFC has been plenty in the promotion’s 33-year history, but Raoni Barcelos takes the cake.

A grueling affair opposite Raul Rosas Jr. was going well for Barcelos on September 26. The pair entered the fight on lengthy win streaks, with a big win for either man pushing them closer to a title shot. Despite a brilliant performance that put him ahead on all three judges’ scorecards going into the final round, the Brazilian passed out; many believe it was due to a cardiac arrest or stroke. The 39-year-old was stretchered out of the cage and rushed to hospital, where he stayed for several nights. Fans worried for Barcelos’ safety, not knowing if his quality of life would be threatened by the scary events. Positive news has since surfaced, claiming the veteran was awake, talking to his friends and family, and able to walk around. But fans still sought answers for what happened on that fateful night.

Now, six days after the situation unfolded in the octagon, countryman Glover Teixeira has revealed exactly what happened to Raoni Barcelos.

“It looked like it was a headbutt there. The kid accidentally headbutted him, but we didn’t know,” Teixeira said. “And, man, being carried out on a stretcher at that moment- it was the most desperate moment in MMA… It was something out of nowhere that made us think of several things.”

Teixeira continued.

“Could it have been his heart? Could it have been a brain injury? That’s what happened there. They did the exams, and there was swelling in the brain, so it was a traumatic brain injury. Maybe that swelling knocked him out. His body, the body’s defense mechanism- let’s stop, because this guy isn’t going to stop.”

“His mind was stronger than his body. I’m going to say it this way: he didn’t want to give up.”