\n<\/p>\n
Las Vegas \u2014 Bantamweight Raoni Barcelos is \u201cvery happy\u201d to be in the main event of UFC Vegas 121 this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m taking in every moment, every second and trying to just enjoy this weekend the most,\u201d the Brazilian told Cageside Press ahead of his first headlining gig in the UFC, 16 fights into his career with the promotion.<\/p>\n
The long road to headlining his first show makes the opportunity even more meaningful for Barcelos (22-5).<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s why I\u2019m so happy. For so long, I\u2019ve been there. Signed so many posters with other people\u2019s faces on it, just kind of wondering \u2018when\u2019s my face going to be on there?\u2019 And now it\u2019s finally here, so I just want to enjoy every second of it. I\u2019m just beyond happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe other fighters don\u2019t give that much importance to it, but as long as I\u2019ve been waiting, it\u2019s just different for me,\u201d he added. \u201cI think that building a story is what brings you fans, and I really have a story. I think people are noticing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barcelos, who added that he\u2019s noticed more fans following him these days, takes inspiration from fellow Brazilian and former light heavyweight champ Glover Teixeira.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s my biggest inspiration, and he had a similar path in the organization. A lot of people believed in him, and he just kept trucking on, and eventually made it to the title,\u201d noted Barcelos. \u201cSo I see myself doing the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for going up against Raul Rosas Jr., a young star the UFC has pushed heavily since he won his way into the company at just 17, Barcelos is far from intimidated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t scare me. I think after the Payton Talbott fight, I just became more and more confident in myself, seeing what I could do,\u201d stated Barcelos. The Brazilian is the only man to defeat Talbott, back at UFC 311 in January of 2025. \u201cRaul\u2019s tough, and he\u2019s going to keep growing. There\u2019s a lot of other great fighters for him to fight, a lot of other great fights for him, but this is my moment. I really believe that this is my moment, and this is my time.\u201d<\/p>\n