In the truest sense of the word, Raul Rosas Jr. bears his Mexican heritage on his sleeves. So it makes sense that he’s joining UFC’s event earmarked for Mexican independence festivities. Still just 19, the youngest combatant in UFC competition, he will be part of the Noche UFC (UFC 306) pay-per-view event. But there was a time that sudden illness impeded his journey and a little Rosas Jr. thought he wouldn’t even make it this far!
Rosas Jr. (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) looks north to his fourth promotional win when he takes on China’s Aori Qileng at Noche UFC. It happens on September 14th in Las Vegas. ‘El Niño Problema’ opens up the card with the UFC 306 pay-per-view marquee bout. During pre-fight media availability, the fighter talked about how he had an emergency when he was little. The harrowing ordeal almost made him consider not making it.
When I was little I would never complain…[But] One time I got a stomach ache…and I couldn’t move, but I didn’t say anything. I would only say I was tired…They took me to a city that was hour and half away…in an ambulance. I remember waking up, and only think I was supposed to die within a few hours…
Raul Rosas Jr. during ‘UFC Connected: Alexa Grasso, Diego Lopes, Raul Rosas Jr. and Ignacio Bahamondes!’ by Megan Olivi; 🎥 : @ufc on YT
‘Origins: Raul Rosas Jr.‘ for Noche UFC Edition UFC Connected tells how the fighter had a burst appendix. Rosas Jr. incurred an infection and underwent treatment without the full general anesthetics (GA) discourse. It was a tough ordeal for a kid with such a tough break, who was later financially somewhat shunted at one point. However, the 19-year prodigy made it so far and is thankful to be here.
😳When Raul Rosas Jr. was 7, he had emergency surgery, surrounded by six doctors, without anesthesia.
‘I remember waking up, and I thought I was supposed to die within a few hours
🎥 @UFC ▫️ pic.twitter.com/6cQGvGVtie
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 6, 2024
He was part of the inaugural annual Noche UFC: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 last September. The 18-year-old Rosas snagged a stunning 54-second KO, bewildering fans. He means to keep the streak going at this Noche UFC as well. Rosas is also gratified to fight at the Las Begas ‘Sphere’ next.
UFC 306’s Raul Rosas Jr. excited to ‘put on a show’ at Sphere
The rebranded Riyadh Season Noche UFC, dubbed on the UFC 306 pay-per-view, is exciting. Many staple Mexican fighters are joining the card. Raul Rosas Jr. has never set foot inside the Sphere before this Mexican Independence Day-themed event. That will make his UFC 306 experience all the more memorable.
Raul Rosas Jr. excited to be part of UFC 306 pay-per-view (Source: es.agfight.com/X)Alexa Grasso, the first champ out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, defends undisputed gold in the feature co-mains. She also partakes in what is to be the first WMMA trilogy affair. Interestingly her last fight was also on Mexican Independence Day, which ended in a controversial draw against Valentina Shevchenko. ‘The Bullet’ believed the officials caved into the pressure of keeping the title with the Mexican champion. As such, she will be keen not to leave the trilogy in the hands of the judges again.
Top Mexican standouts like Irene Aldana and Manuel Torres also join the card. As does Entram Gym Team’s Yazmin Jauregui. She has been working with Georgian title challenger Merab Dvalishvili, who pitched his part to embrace Mexican culture ahead of UFC 306.
Rosas’ marquee appearance follows a serious lineup. There’s a lot of competition for eyes across these names. But Raul Rosas Jr. trusts his skills to be a standout himself.
I’ve never been inside the Sphere, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, …So, I’m excited that the first time I’m going to be in the Sphere is when I’m in that cage fighting. So, I’m excited, you know? …I trust my skillset and I’m always going to go out there and perform. I’m a showman too.
Raul Rosas Jr. to UFC 306 open workout media scrum
Rosas has earned eight of nine career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins. The switch stance fighter from Team 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is on a two-fight winning streak. All three of his UFC competition wins have been via submissions. He suffered the only loss against Christian Rodriguez in a sophomore UFC appearance. Since then, Rosas Jr. has defeated Terrence Mitchell and Ricky Turcios. When he gets into the Sphere, the showman expects to shine again.
