Raul Rosas Jr. still has the same big goals he had when he entered the UFC.
MMA
Morning Report | Raul Rosas Jr. still aiming to be youngest UFC champion, retire by 25
Published
1 month agoon
On Saturday, Rosas steps into the octagon for the eighth when he takes on Raoni Barcelos in the main event of UFC Vegas 121. It's Rosas' first UFC main event, and still only 21 years old, he believes a big win on Saturday keeps him on the right track toward making history by becoming the youngest UFC champion ever.
“Yeah, that's the goal,†Rosas told Full Send MMA. “I think right now I'm on a good path. Winning this main event, I think, puts my in a very good position to keep chasing that dream.â€
Even if Rosas does score a big win on Saturday, he's still in a race against time. “El Niño Problema†turns 22 in a couple of weeks, and Jon Jones currently holds the record for youngest UFC champion, winning the light heavyweight title at 23 years and 243 days. That gives Rosas under two years to work his way up the stacked bantamweight ladder, something he realizes is no easy feat.
“I've got to be ready for short notice fights, be willing to take risks, and this Saturday, make a big statement for sure,†Rosas said. “Not just a win, but I've got to make a statement.â€
But even if Rosas achieves his dreams and breaks Jones' record, don't expect a long title reign. Because Rosas doesn't just want to rush his way to a title, he also wants to get out of the sport quickly, too.
“Yeah, if by 25 I accomplish everything that I want to accomplish in my career, I'm just going to step back from the sport,†Rosas said. “The goal is to get the belt and then defend it a couple of times, try to challenge myself, go up a weight class, maybe two, and after I'm done, like, I run out of goals, that's when I'm just gonna quit. It could be 26, 27, 28, but I'm just saying whenever I'm done with my goals, that's when I'm gonna step out of the game.â€
Champ. Justin Gaethje thinks Ilia Topuria is too small for lightweight, says Arman Tsarukyan is ‘next in line.'
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Paulo Costa laying it all out there.
The beef I never saw coming.
Apparently there was a Yaroslav Amosov death hoax yesterday.
Something to look out for.
Carlos Prates says UFC has confirmed he’s next for Islam Makhachev
So, I think most of us believe this is what’s going to happen, but speaking at Contender Series, Carlos Prates said the UFC confirmed he’s next, and he’s hoping for January.
Thoughts? Is Carlos gonna stop Islam’s run?
Jose Aldo was actually champion at nearly 6 months younger than Jon, but since the UFC didn't officially fold the WEC into its organization until long after Zuffa acquired it, he was only the de fact UFC featherweight champion, and Jon is technically the youngest UFC champion.
I always feel its important to note that because people desperately want to forget how incredible Jose Aldo was.
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Report: Jacqueline Cavalcanti vs. Michelle Montague postponed to UFC 335 on Dec. 12
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On To the Next One: Matches to make after controversial UFC Vegas 123 event
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UFC Vegas 123 went down this past Saturday at the Meta APEX. The Halloween-themed event ended in controversy following referee Dan Miragliotta's decision to stand up Renato Moicano and Tom Nolan with Moicano in a dominant position, thus leading to Nolan getting the finish the third round. Where does Nolan go from this victory where the headlines are solely about the referee?
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Raul Rosas Jr. steps up to face Colby Covington after Dillon Danis Pullout
Published
2 days agoon
November 2, 2026
Rosas Jr. has accepted a short-notice grappling matchup against
Colby
Covington after Dillon
Danis withdrew.
Danis was scheduled to face Covington in a submission-only match on
Nov. 3 at Pala Pellicone in Rome. However, Hype FC CEO Armand
Martirosian announced at Sunday's press conference that Danis had
pulled out. “El Nino Problema†stepped in to face the former
interim
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder.
Colby Covington and Raul Rosas Jr. set to clash at Hype FC
ahead of their RAF matches
Rosas, who was attending the press conference, volunteered when
Martirosian called for a replacement.
“Let's do it, f*ck it… Chiwiwis!†Rosas Jr. said at the
presser.
Covington competed at welterweight in the UFC, while Rosas is a
bantamweight. Covington last fought in December 2024, losing to
Joaquin
Buckley, and has since notified the promotion of his retirement
from mixed martial arts. Rosas has won six straight and is coming
off a fifth-round technical knockout victory over Raoni
Barcelos.
Both are scheduled to compete in Real American Freestyle wrestling
matches this month. Covington faces Khamzat
Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, while Rosas takes on
Clay
Guida at RAF 15 on Nov. 28.
🚨 Dillon
Danis pulled out of his grappling match vs Colby
Covington at Hype FC in Rome Colby will face Raul Rosas
Jr. instead https://t.co/s9J6F2owrB— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
November 1, 2026
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