Presently, Raúl Rosas Jr, more popularly known as “El Niño Problema,” is the name doing rounds in the field of MMA, considered to be the youngest to be signed by the UFC. Originally from Clovis, New Mexico, from a Mexican background, his story started early under the guidance of his father. His dad was a martial artist; he indulged him with the love of this sport. Later, Rosas Jr. started being very skillful, and his father, along with professional training at Rosas Brothers MMA Gym, helped him build such an impressive set of skills.
Early Amateur Success and Entry to the UFC
Rosas Jr. was an early talent on the amateur circuit of MMA, as his highlight wins included earning gold in the 2019 IMMAF Youth World Championships, representing Team USA. With a great amateur record that called for the opportunity in the UFC via an appearance on Dana White Contenders Series. Consider this: at only 17 years of age, Rosas Jr. showed grit and brilliance in winning his fight by unanimous decision; which won him the UFC contract. It was a big moment not just because of his age but also because he performed incredibly, getting rave reviews even from UFC President Dana White himself.
The Road to Professional Success
Rosas Jr. made his debut this past December at UFC 282, immediately becoming the showstopper with his submission over Jay Perrin via face crank in the first round. The victory made Rosas Jr. the youngest fighter to ever register a win inside the Octagon at 18 years young. Since then, his next couple of fights have been filled with knockouts and submissions, showing just how flexible he can be. In 2024, Rosas has an impressive professional record of wins by way of submission, while having a strong game in grappling and wrestling. Some of his most important wins include the unanimous decision against Aoriqileng at UFC 306.
Fighting Style and Strengths
Aggressive and freestyle are good adjectives to describe the style employed by Rosas Jr. to date, relying on his wrestling and grappling background with great success on the ground. Submissions are a great indicator of how well he does on the ground, with his well-roundedness enabling him to pick up six first-round finishes. His significant strike accuracy currently stands at around 44%, and his grappling control has made him such a formidable and unpredictable force inside the Octagon.
A Mexican-American Inspiration
Rosas Jr. is the pride of not only Mexican but also American fans. When he won at UFC 306, it was on Mexican Independence Day, which meant everything: it was his heritage, his identity, and his growing status as a younge, Mexican-American star. He has continued to be an inspiration for fans on either side of the border-a representation of one’s dream to make it big with sheer hard work and dedication.
Challenges and Setbacks
Despite the success, there has been some adversity for Rosas. He gained his first loss as a professional in April 2023 at UFC 287 to Christian Rodriguez. The fight was an example of just how heated the competition is within the UFC, and the setback placed Rosas Jr. into harder training to improve his skills to this day.
What’s Next for Raúl Rosas Jr.?
He is one of the youngest active fighters on the UFC roster, and with time on his side, Rosas is more interested in building a legacy in MMA. The next few fights will be crucial for him to establish his standing in the UFC. Also, the fans would love to see how he keeps working his way up as a fighter.
