UFC Vegas 121: Raul Rosas Jr., 21, headlines as Japan's Rinya Nakamura returns on Sunday morning card

The UFC returns to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas this weekend with a card built around one of its youngest fighters. Raul Rosas Jr. headlines UFC Fight Night: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos, also known as UFC Vegas 121, on Saturday, 26 September US time. Malaysian fans can watch on Sunday morning. The bantamweight card also includes a Japanese graduate of the Asia-focused Road to UFC tournament and The Ultimate Fighter 34 finals.

Timings for Malaysian fans

• Prelims: 5pm ET Saturday, which is 5am Sunday in Malaysia
• Main card: 8pm ET Saturday, which is 8am Sunday in Malaysia

The event is streamed on Paramount+ in the United States. Local viewing options may vary.

Main event: youth against experience

Rosas Jr. is 21 and turns 22 on 8 October. According to the UFC, he will become "the youngest athlete to ever main event a UFC card." He is on a five-fight winning streak. In his most recent fight he beat Rob Font at UFC 326, landing 16 of his 18 takedown attempts.

UFC.com notes that he controls opponents very effectively on the ground. He has averaged more than five minutes of control time in each of his last four wins. The same analysis also says his striking output is low. He landed only 10 significant strikes against Font and did not attempt a submission. It calls this fight "a tremendous measuring stick moment" before any move towards the top 10.

His opponent, Raoni Barcelos, is 39 years old. The Brazilian is on his own five-fight winning streak, and many of his recent fights have gone the distance. It is a clear test of whether the young grappler can beat an experienced opponent who is hard to finish.

Asian interest: Nakamura vs Hiestand

The Asian highlight of the card is Japan's Rinya Nakamura, who won the bantamweight tournament in the first season of Road to UFC. The tournament was created to find talent from the Asia-Pacific region. The UFC lists Nakamura's record in the organisation as 3-1.

He faces Brady Hiestand, a former finalist on The Ultimate Fighter season 29, in a fight that has taken almost three years to happen. The two were first booked for UFC 298 in February 2024, but Hiestand pulled out injured. According to the UFC, Hiestand now returns after 834 days out with a knee injury. He is 3-0 in the UFC, and the UFC says he now also works as a firefighter.

The Ultimate Fighter 34 finals are also on the main card. Mehemmedeli Osmanli meets Ilimbek Akylbek at bantamweight, and Melissa Amaya faces Tina Black at strawweight. Jiu-jitsu star Rodolfo Vieira takes on Robert Bryczek at middleweight.

Late change

Mickey Gall has withdrawn from his fight with Sedriques Dumas for medical reasons, the UFC said. Luis Hernandez, who recently earned a contract on Dana White's Contender Series, makes his UFC debut as the replacement. The fight will now be at light heavyweight instead of middleweight.

Why it matters

This card is between the bigger numbered events, UFC 331 and UFC 332. Even so, it matters for the bantamweight division. A convincing win for Rosas Jr. would push him towards the rankings. A win for Nakamura would put an Asian bantamweight prospect back in contention after time away.

Key takeaways

• UFC Vegas 121 takes place at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The main card starts at 8am Sunday Malaysian time.
• Raul Rosas Jr., 21, becomes the youngest main-event fighter in UFC history against 39-year-old Raoni Barcelos.
• Japan's Rinya Nakamura, a Road to UFC winner, finally faces Brady Hiestand after their 2024 fight was cancelled.
• The Ultimate Fighter 34 bantamweight and strawweight finals are on the main card.
• Luis Hernandez replaces Mickey Gall against Sedriques Dumas at light heavyweight.

FAQ

What is Road to UFC? It is the UFC's tournament for finding prospects from the Asia-Pacific region. The winners earn UFC contracts. Rinya Nakamura won the bantamweight tournament in Season 1.

What time does the main card start in Malaysia? 8am on Sunday, 27 September. The prelims start at 5am.

Why did Mickey Gall pull out? The UFC said he withdrew for medical reasons. Luis Hernandez replaces him.

Sources: UFC.com, Wikipedia (event page)