This was probably the most anticipated match this season Dana White’s Contender Seriesbecause only 17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. came to the cage to fight for a contract with the UFC, to whom the athletic commission even had to grant a special permit so that he could wrestle among professionals before reaching the age of majority.
He started training at the age of 4, his father brought him to him, and together with his brother, they were said to be the only children among adults in the gym. At 15, Raul started wrestling in the amateurs, but he didn’t stay there for long, he switched to the pros at the end of last year and managed to collect 5 quick wins before the limit in less than a year, which did not escape the attention of talent hunters from the UFC.
Waiting for him in the cage was Mando Gutierrez, 7 years older than him, who, like Rosas, specializes primarily in fighting on the ground. So we didn’t see much in the stance, the two fighters just exchanged a few lowkicks and roudkicks at a very high pace, after which Raul tried an effective jump spin. She did hit, but she didn’t have enough force to bring about the desired ending. In addition, Gutierrez caught the leg and it went to the ground.
This spinning back kick… what can’t this kid do?!?!? #DWCS pic.twitter.com/UzC0GRjNRu
— UFC (@ufc) September 21, 2022
Although Rosas ended up in a guillotine, he got out of it after a while, and then they started an exhibition of Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the opponent, constantly changing positions and trying for submissions. Raul even almost managed to be seen only rarely suloev stretch. It was no wonder that Dana White, along with matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, applauded enthusiastically after the end of the first round.
This Suloev stretch attempt by Raul Rosas Jr. was naaaaasty #DWCS pic.twitter.com/P2SUoluoAu
— UFC (@ufc) September 21, 2022
We didn’t see much in the attitude even in the second five-minute period. After the initial tap, Raul faked a knee jump and immediately dove for a takedown. Very nice and the country show could continue. In the third round, Gutierrez decided that it might be better if he took the fight to the ground himself. In the end, it didn’t matter at all, because his opponent took the final act to his side and dominated the entire match on points.
On his way backstage, the young man exchanged a few words with the head of the UFC “I told him that even with my age in the UFC, I’m going to finish a lot of guys,” he revealed moments later during an interview with Laura Sanko. “They’re not at my level, forget my age. Give me anybody. Give me a contract and a fight this Saturday or next Saturday. I’m ready all the time, I was born to fight. I’m not going to take a break in the middle, I’m going to take a break at the end.”
White was, of course, thrilled. “It was an amazing match. The kid is at an awfully high level for a 17-year-old. I like a lot of things about him. I liked that he never just stayed in the guard, he was always active, always going for the finish. I can’t wait to see what he looks like at 22.”
He said there was no doubt about the contract. “We didn’t talk about him backstage at all, we already discussed it during his match. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not only that, a lot of fighters are now bombarding me with messages, a lot of people here have also come to me asking me to sign this guy. He is absolutely talented, he is special, he is different. You don’t see kids at 17 behaving like this. I usually worry about kids who are 22, 23 years old. We mostly look at people who are 25, 26, 27 when they have good balance sheets. So this kid is special and we’ll see what he can do.”
Young Rosas made an impression on many experienced fighters. For example, Aljamain Sterling, the reigning bantamweight champion, whose ranks Raul will expand, reacted to his performance. “Funkmaster” wrote that he would be very surprised if Raul doesn’t get the belt by the time he’s 25. But the spirited youngster disagrees, because he wants to become the youngest champion in the history of the UFC. That is still Jon Jones, who sat on the title of the light heavyweight division at the age of 23. So Raul has more than enough time left to break his record, but it will definitely not be easy.
