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Raul Rosas Jr. Dominates Vince Morales at UFC Mexico Despite Late Comeback Attempt
The UFC Mexico City event delivered some serious fireworks, but none shone brighter than 19-year-old phenom Raul Rosas Jr., who continued his impressive climb up the bantamweight ladder with a unanimous decision victory over veteran Vince Morales. And guess what? Despite what looked like a dicey third round, the young star was never actually in danger of losing his winning streak.
Spoiler alert: The scorecards weren’t even close.
The “Problema” Shows His Problem-Solving Skills
If you missed Saturday’s action, you missed watching a teenager school a grown man for the better part of 15 minutes. Rosas Jr. put on a grappling clinic against Morales, showing exactly why he earned his UFC contract at just 17 years old on Dana White’s Contender Series.
The fans at Arena CDMX erupted as their homegrown talent repeatedly took Morales down, controlling him with suffocating pressure that left the veteran gasping for answers through the first two rounds.
“I knew I could dominate him on the ground,” Rosas told me after the fight. “My coaches had the perfect gameplan, and I executed it almost perfectly. Almost.”
That Third Round “Comeback” That Wasn’t
Here’s where things got interesting. Many watching at home thought Morales might have found his rhythm in the final frame, landing some solid strikes and appearing to turn the tide. Social media erupted with concerns that Rosas might be fading late.
But the judges’ scorecards tell a different story:
| Judge | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge 1 | 10-9 Rosas | 10-9 Rosas | 9-10 Morales | 29-28 Rosas |
| Judge 2 | 10-9 Rosas | 10-9 Rosas | 9-10 Morales | 29-28 Rosas |
| Judge 3 | 10-9 Rosas | 10-9 Rosas | 9-10 Morales | 29-28 Rosas |
Even with Morales taking the third round on all cards, Rosas Jr. was never in jeopardy of losing the decision. His dominance in the first two frames sealed the deal, extending his win streak to four and further cementing his status as one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC’s bantamweight division.
What’s Next for “El Niño Problema”?
At just 19, Rosas Jr. is already 4-1 in the UFC (with his only loss coming to Christian Rodriguez last year). This kid—and yes, I’m calling a professional fighter a “kid”—could be competing for another decade or more before even hitting his prime.
I’m hearing rumors that the UFC might be looking to test him against a top-15 opponent soon. Is it too much, too soon? Maybe. But when you’re winning convincingly and drawing massive crowds in Mexico, the UFC’s matchmakers tend to accelerate your timeline.
“I want anyone in the top 15,” Rosas told the press afterward. “I believe I’m ready. I can compete with these guys. I know I can beat them.”
The Mexican MMA Explosion
Let’s not overlook the significance of Rosas Jr.’s rise in the context of Mexican MMA. Following in the footsteps of Brandon Moreno, Yair Rodriguez, and Alexa Grasso, Rosas represents the newest wave of Mexican talent storming the UFC.
The crowd’s reaction to his victory spoke volumes about his star power in his home country. UFC Mexico City might have featured veterans like Moreno on the card, but it was clear that Rosas Jr. is fast becoming the future of Mexican fighting.
Insert image of Raul Rosas Jr. celebrating with Mexican flag after victory here
The Technical Breakdown: How Rosas Dominated
What impressed me most about Rosas Jr.’s performance was his fight IQ. For someone so young, his ability to:
- Chain wrestling sequences together
- Maintain top position against a stronger opponent
- Intelligently conserve energy
- Recognize when to disengage on the feet
These are traits we typically see in veterans with twice his experience. And while that final round showed he still has areas to improve (particularly his cardio and striking defense), the foundation is undeniably solid.
Want to See More of Raul Rosas Jr.?
With the UFC’s international schedule heating up, we might not have to wait long to see Rosas back in action. The promotion has events planned throughout the summer, and a quick turnaround could be in the cards if he emerged unscathed from Saturday’s bout.
Have you become a fan of “El Niño Problema” yet? If not, you might want to jump on the bandwagon now—because at the rate he’s going, this teenager might be challenging for UFC gold before he’s old enough to celebrate with a legal drink in the United States.
Follow our coverage for more updates on Raul Rosas Jr.’s journey through the UFC bantamweight division, and let us know in the comments who you think he should face next!
Source: UFC Mexico City official results and post-fight interviews
