Despite a setback in 2023, Raul Rosas Jr. believes he’s still on track to become the youngest champion in UFC history.
The 19-year-old recently submitted Ricky Turcios in the second round of UFC Louisville. After losing a decision to Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287 in March 2023, Rosas answered with back-to-back stoppage wins.
When asked about the goal of breaking Jon Jones’ youngest UFC champ record, Rosas feels he’s on the right path.
“It’s always been there,” Rosas said on The MMA Hour. “I did take that loss, and it did set me back a little bit, but I knew I was going to be back, and, you know, it was nothing.”
Rosas is now 3-1 as a UFC fighter after earning a UFC contract on Contender Series at the age of 17.
When asked how long he thinks it will take to get his chance to fight for a world title, Rosas ironed out, what he believes, to be a realistic roadmap to the gold.
“It depends,” Rosas explained. “Shit, let me see, if I get another fight this year, I’m thinking if I win, if I don’t get a top-15 [opponent] next, I think winning the next fight will get me a [ranked opponent].
“Then [I’ll likely be] fighting three fights in the top 15, so probably two, three years it will take me [to become champion].
“It’s always been the main goal, but I’ve got four years to break it. I think I can make it happen.”