Raul Rosas Jr. was in highschool when the UFC provided him a shot on Dana White’s Contender Sequence.
UFC bantamweight star Raul Rosas Jr. wasn’t thought of a authorized grownup when he bought the decision to compete on Dana White’s Contender Sequence for a contract.
Rosas, who returns this weekend at UFC Mexico City, was 17 years outdated when he bought the decision from the UFC matchmakers to battle for a contract towards Mando Gutierrez on DWCS. Gutierrez was a prime pupil of Conor McGregor on The Final Fighter 31, as McGregor and Michael Chandler battled because the season’s coaches.
Rosas became the UFC’s youngest signee by placing on one of the vital dominant performances of his younger profession in entrance of Dana White and the matchmakers.
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17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. secured a UFC job earlier than graduating from highschool
Rosas wasted no time settling in to the huge platform on DWCS in 2022. He was in a position to counter Gutierrez’s advances on the ft within the opening minutes of the battle, and as soon as the motion bought to the bottom, it was one-way site visitors for Rosas.
Rosas was in a position to dominate a lot of the grappling exchanges towards Gutierrez, whereas additionally touchdown nasty ground-and-pound strikes and turning Gutierrez’s face right into a bloody mess. Whereas he bumped into a short second of bother in Spherical 3, Rosas was in a position to showcase the maturity wanted to win a troublesome unanimous resolution.
Regardless of not having the ability to end the battle, Rosas was awarded a UFC contract for his efforts, turning into the promotion’s youngest-ever signing. He was unbeaten via his first six skilled fights when White provided him a contract.
The UFC’s resolution to signal an adolescent isn’t frequent in trendy MMA. However the UFC’s imaginative and prescient for Rosas has largely paid off, as he’s gained 4 of his 5 UFC fights, together with a most-recent win over Aoriqileng at UFC 306.
Raul Rosas Jr.’s UFC profession might abruptly finish earlier than he reaches his bodily prime
Rosas desires to interrupt Jon Jones‘s report because the UFC’s youngest champion, a deadline that’s shortly approaching. A formidable win over Vince Morales this weekend may very well be sufficient to safe Rosas a Prime 15 spot within the crowded bantamweight division.
Rosas is within the UFC for a great time, and doubtlessly not a very long time. Rosas wants to retire by age 25, a situation unparalleled in trendy UFC historical past.
Rosas has bounced back nicely since struggling his first-career defeat to Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287. He’s gained three consecutive fights, together with wins over Ricky Turcios and Terrence Mitchell.
Rosas became the youngest to win a UFC fight when he completed Jay Perrin in his debut at UFC 282. He additionally took residence a $50k post-fight efficiency bonus, a feat that doubtless made his highschool classmates jealous.
