Raul Rosas Jr. doesn’t see bantamweight being the permanent home for his fighting career.
The 19-year-old UFC prospect thinks a move up to featherweight is inevitable, given his age and the fact that his body is still growing. This process is already happening, because Rosas Jr. (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has actually felt his body change in the time since he earned a UFC contract on Dana White Contender Series in September 2022.
“I do see my days are numbered at 135 pounds because each weight cut is a little more every fight,” Rosas Jr. told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “For my fight in Contender Series, I didn’t cut anything, then in my debut I cut a little, and then the following a little more, and so on.
“My body is growing, so I do think that I will have to move up to 145 (pounds) very soon. That’s why right now I want to grab the title as fast as possible at 135, and then go up to 145 pounds.”
There’s no need to enter panic mode on the end being near for Rosas Jr. at bantamweight. He’s still making weight fine, he said, and thinks he can prolong his time in the division for several more fights.
“Yeah, I think a year and a half or two, I want to grab that title and then move up to 145 pounds,” Rosas Jr. said.
“El Niño Problema” is currently the youngest fighter on the UFC roster. He’s 2-1 since signing with the UFC as a 17-year-old.
In his most recent outing back in September on the main card of Noche UFC, Rosas Jr. scored a TKO over Terrence Mitchell in the first round of their contest.
Rosas also told to MMA Junkie that he hopes to be very active in 2024, and be in position to fight for a spot in the rankings at next year’s Noche UFC in September.
UFC prospect Raul Rosas Jr. says featherweight move inevitable: ‘My days are numbered at 135 pounds’
