‘El Nino Problema’ Polls Low in Matchup with Raoni Barcelos at UFC Fight Night 289
Las Vegas has inspired countless stories since it was permanently settled in the Mojave Desert. Today's stories cover many subjects, but the ones circulating most often concern the Ultimate Fighting Championship and its fighters. Among them are two who will be fighting each other this upcoming weekend in the Men’s Bantamweight Division. They are 21-year-old Raúl Rosas Jr. and 39-year-old Raoni Barcelos. Notably, Rosas Jr. has adopted the nickname ‘El Nino Problema’ while Barcelos is going by his given name only.
The 39-year-old fighter seems ready for this fight and is coming off a five-win streak. He is no stranger to the fighting world, with a current record of 22-5-0. Surprisingly, he hasn’t been given a title shot yet, but that could change due to his recent win over Montel Jackson. Most of his wins have come by unanimous decision. He's also a savage on the feet, landing 4.65 strikes per minute on average. On top of that, he has an overall defense of 60% and a takedown defense of 87%. In short, Barcelos is just as much a striker as he is a defender against any standing or takedown strategies his opponents employ.
The strategies the 21-year-old fighter uses will have to be significant if he hopes to find a path to victory. However, ‘El Nino Problema’ has had a five-win streak like his opponent, continuing his dominant run in the UFC. This means he has strategies that work and has even secured unanimous-decision wins in his bouts. Together, his bouts average 1.34 strikes per minute, which is lower than most would like compared to his opponent. This is balanced out by the younger fighter’s ability to absorb 1.24 strikes per minute. That is a much-needed advantage, since his record is 12-1-0 and he's less experienced than his opponent.
Since Rosas Jr. is polling low in most stats compared with his 39-year-old opponent, the crowd favors Barcelos to win. A couple of reasons point to his experience in the octagon, as well as the notion that he can anticipate the submission strategies the younger opponent likes to execute. If he does not, the bout could go to one of the youngest fighters in the UFC! This would be a big upset to the Men’s Bantamweight Division and a huge boost to ‘El Nino Problema’. Conversely, he will need to stay cautious and methodical throughout the bout if he hopes to secure another win.
The question of who will win may center on the strategies the fighters use against each other. The young 21-year-old may resort to his favored takedowns followed by a successful submission. The more experienced and older opponent may see that coming and hold him off each time. If that happens, ‘El Nino Problema’ will be exhausted by the time round five arrives. This will create a host of problems unless he adjusts his ground game and focuses on defending incoming strikes. The best way to see who takes the win at the META Apex during UFC Fight Night 289 is to stream the fight live on Saturday, September 26th, 2026, on Paramount+ starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT!
