Barcelos Edged Jackson in a Split Decision at UFC Vegas 116
Raoni Barcelos defeated Montel Jackson by split decision at UFC Vegas 116 on April 25, 2026. Two judges scored the bantamweight bout 29–28 for Barcelos, while the third gave Jackson a 29–28 card.
A difficult matchup to score
Jackson started strongly and dropped Barcelos early, adding to his record number of knockdowns in the bantamweight division. Barcelos recovered, used takedowns and threatened on the ground in later rounds.
Jackson continued landing impactful strikes, but Barcelos’ grappling and control gave judges a competing basis for scoring. The fight remained close through three rounds.
The split decision went to Barcelos, who extended his winning streak. The official scorecards were 29–28 twice for Barcelos and 29–28 for Jackson. The first round was especially difficult to score after Jackson’s early knockdown.
A veteran win in Las Vegas
The bout took place on the UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal card at Meta APEX. Barcelos’ resilience after the early knockdown proved important in a contest that could have been scored either way.
Jackson lost a decision despite the early knockdown, while Barcelos left with the judges’ verdict. It was not a unanimous decision or a stoppage.
UFC’s event results and scorecards confirm the winner and all three scores. Those records provide the clearest account of the split decision.
