Raul Rosas Jr. is the youngest fighter in the history of the UFC. He first appeared in the Dana White contender series while being just a 17-year-old teenager. Within a span of a few months, Raul Rosas Jr. has made a name for himself and continues to earn the respect of fight fans around the world.
The new Mexican kid got the spotlight during his time at the Dana White Contender Series. Rosas made his professional debut in 2021. He fought for local Mexican promotion called the Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico. Raul Rosas Jr. then went 5-0 in that promotion. All of those five wins were finishes. Out of those five finishes, four were submissions and one was a TKO victory.
He caught the eye of UFC who then called him for the Dana White Contender Series. Rosas Jr. made his first appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series on September 20, 2022, against Mando Gutierrez. He won the fight via unanimous decision in a dominant outing. There wasn’t a single moment in the fight where he was in danger. Rosas Jr. showcased his amazing wrestling and grappling skills along with some good striking, becoming the youngest fighter to sign a UFC contract at just 17 years of age.
In his debut fight in the promotion, Raul Rosas Jr. fought Jay Perrin on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282. The fight was a one-sided affair as Rosas Jr. submitted Jay Perrin in the very first round. He submitted him via rear naked choke. It’s surprising to note, Rosas Jr. did all this in a single year, fighting a staggering six times during 2022, including his UFC 282 win over Jay Perrin.
Needless to say, he has caught the eyes of many fighters in the bantamweight division. The future of this young fighter is looking bright in the UFC. He has all skillset to become a huge star in the promotional and get the belt in the future.
Who are Raul Rosas Jr.’s Parents?
Raul was born and raised in New Mexico. His parents are Raul Rosas Sr and Oyuki Rios. His parents moved to America from Mexico when Rosas Jr. was just 13 years old. Now they live in Santa Rosa, California. Raul Rosas Sr. is a boxing coach while his wife works part-time jobs.
His dad is also the head coach in one of his gyms. Rosas Sr. plays an important role in his son’s fighting career. According to Rosas Jr., his dad is his striking coach.
Who Are Raul Rosas Jr.’s Siblings?
Rosas Jr. has three siblings. He has two brothers and one sister, Kevin Rosas, Jessie Rosas, and Rosa Rosas, respectively. Two of his sibling are also actively training in mixed martial arts.
Even his sibling want to achieve the goal that their brother has achieved. His brother was also at the corner during his fight at Dana White’s contender series. Along with Raul Rosas Sr., Jessie Rosas helps his younger brother Raul Rosas Jr. during his training camps. He has also concerned him during his fights.
When did Raul Rosas Jr. get into fighting?
Rosas Jr. always had a love for fighting since he was a child. His parents even moved to the US so that their kids could get better training facilities.
He began his career in MMA through wrestling. Rosas Jr. had also participated in Pankration. At just 14 years of age, he participated in his first international tournament. He took part in the IMMAF world championships in Rome, Italy. He won the gold at that tournament and made a name for himself considering his age.
He then moved to Las Vegas and started training at Cobrinha Jiu-Jitsu and 10th Planet. He then made his professional debut at the Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico In November 2021.
Is Raul Rosas Jr. suffering from a disease?
Raul Rosas Jr. does suffer from a medical condition called the Pallister W syndrome or fetal liquor fluctuation factors. In this condition, the person usually suffers from disfigured facial features which can include lips, eyes, and nostrils. The condition usually takes place if the mother has been actively drinking alcohol in the important stages of pregnancy which can lead to this condition in the child.
Though the condition looks different from the outside, it doesn’t affect his fighting performance. He is completely cleared by the doctor to pursue his dream of fighting.
Is Raul Rosas Jr. still in high school?
Surprisingly the UFC bantamweight fighter Rosas Jr. is still in high school and is yet to complete it. Currently, he is being home-schooled as he can’t attend regular school due to his tight training schedule. Rosas Jr. is currently a senior-year student.
“I actually never thought about being in the UFC while still being in high school. I imagine having a pro record and everything but I didn’t imagine being in the UFC while being in high-school. So, you know, it’s crazy for me to think about it like that.” He said.
He stated previously how much he misses being in school and hanging out with his friends. But he is focused on his MMA career so he understands that to make it to the big stage he will have to sacrifice these things from his life. Raul Rosas Jr. says that he knows he needs to sacrifice now to achieve things later in his life.
Who are Raul Rosas Jr’s. coaches?
Rosas Jr. has said that he trains at 10th Planet Las Vegas and Cobrinha Jiu-Jitsu. His coaches at Cobrinha Jiu-Jitsu are Hector Vasquez and Raul Rosas Sr.
At 10th planet Jiu-Jitsu, he trains under Casey Halstead and Andy Varela. His dad is his striking coach at Cobrinha Jiu-Jitsu. Rosas Jr.’s brother Jessie Rosas also takes part in his training camps and was also seen cornering him during his fight at Dana White Contender series.
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