UFC star's doctor speaks out after he experienced terrifying blackout in the middle of fight
The doctor of UFC star Raoni Barcelos has spoken out and delivered a medical update after he collapsed in the middle of his fight on Saturday night.
Barcelos took on Raul Rosas Jr in the main event of the Fight Night card at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas but the bantamweight encounter ended up terrifying fashion.
Barcelos was winning on the scorecards going into the final round but with minutes remaining, he and Rosas were involved in a grappling exchange against the cage.
The Brazilian fell to the canvas in sudden fashion and the UFC commentary initial thought Rosas had finished Barcelos.
Advert
However, Barcelos remained unconscious for a significant period after the final buzzer and the broadcast cut away to an advertisement once it became clear he was not in a good way.
Barcelos was taken away on a stretcher and the UFC issued a statement confirming that he became "stable, alert and responsive, with full movement" after being taken to hospital.
UFC star's doctor explains exactly what happened in frightening Octagon moment
Even with the update, there was still a huge mystery regarding what had actually happened to Barcelos.
That was until Gustavo Medeiros, Barcelos' doctor, took to Instagram to explain the exact issue which took place. He claimed that Barcelos suffered a "sudden illness" that required him to be hospitalised as a precautionary measure.
"My name is Gustavo Medeiros, I am Raoni's doctor, and I am here to bring good news to all the people who are sending messages to Raoni's family and team," Gustavo said, as per ESPN.
"Raoni suffered a sudden illness during the fight and was hospitalized as a precaution. At the moment, he is lucid, oriented, and in direct contact with our team in the United States, in Las Vegas. "Therefore, I am well informed about the situation.
"Raoni is lucid, but remains hospitalized merely as a matter of protocol, because he needs to be under observation for a few days to monitor the evolution of his condition and confirm that he will continue to be well, as he is at the moment.
"I'm sending this good news to everyone who follows him: he's doing well and will be back soon, much stronger."
UFC star received huge bonuses despite collapsing
Though he didn't have the outcome that he wanted, Barcelos still ended up with a $100,000 bonus for being involved in the fight of the night.
He suffered the sixth defeat of a career which has brought 22 wins in 14 years.
READ NEXT: UFC fighter knocked out 'five times' in devastating finish that left commentators stunned
Barcelos' coach, Davi Ramos, gave update on his fighter's condition, ensuring fans that they "can stay calm" as Barcelos is "fine".
Barcelos has not yet commented on his collapse. Prior to the loss to Rosas, the 39-year-old had been on a five-fight winning streak.
Topics: UFC
Josh Lawless