Raul Rosas Jr. is no stranger to the fickle nature of fans in the world of mixed martial arts. After experiencing his first career loss, he watched as some supporters became critics, a phenomenon he has witnessed happen to numerous fighters before him.
Rising Star in the UFC
Rosas Jr. gained attention in September when he earned a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at just 17 years old. He secured this contract with a decision win over Mando Gutierrez on Dana White’s Contender Series. His impressive performance continued when he won his promotional debut at UFC 282 in December with a first-round submission against Jay Perrin. Rosas Jr. made bold claims about his abilities, including stating that he could defeat then-bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
First Professional Loss and Reaction
The young fighter faced a significant challenge when he went up against Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287 in April. Despite being a considerable favorite, Rosas Jr. lost to Rodriguez, who displayed exceptional technical skills. While he received support after his first professional loss, he also experienced inevitable criticism from some fans. However, the 18-year-old remains unfazed by the detractors aiming to bring him down. In a pre-fight press conference for UFC Fight Night 227, he stated, “I knew this is how the sport is… Even if Khabib Nurmagomedov would come back and lose, the fans would turn their back on him.”
Rosas Jr. remains confident in his abilities and refuses to back down from his earlier claims about his potential. His aspirations have not wavered, even after experiencing this loss. He asserts, “Everything remains the same. I meant everything. If you bring up something I’ve said in the past, I’ll still admit to it. I still think the same way. Nothing has changed.” As he continues to develop his skills and face new challenges in the Octagon, Rosas Jr. is determined to prove that his potential remains as strong as ever.