Raul Rosas Jr. made history when he entered the Octagon at UFC 282 for his debut fight against Jay Perrin. At just 18 years old, he became the first UFC fighter to compete at such a young age. ‘El Nino Problema’ announced his arrival with an impressive victory via submission in the first round. However, a lot of credit needs to go to his father, Raul Rosas Sr., for the kind of success he has had in the sport so far.

The 19-year-old was drawn into the sport of MMA after he started watching his father go to practice sessions. Although Raul Rosas Sr. currently trains his son, not many know about his fighting career. So, without further adieu, let’s look at why his father decided to take up fighting.

All about Raul Rosas Sr. – How did he start fighting? 

Raul Rosas Sr. works very closely with his son and helps him hone his skills. Rosas Jr. and his brother Jessie started training with their idol from a very early age. His father helps him develop his boxing skills and has also worked on his ground game, which is very significant during his fights. During a recent video, ‘El Nino Problema’ pointed out how his father motivated him to fight. Although not much is known about the career of Rosas Sr., he has definitely helped his son become a professional fighter.

UFC recently released a video on their UFC Connected show on YouTube where Raul Rosas Jr. gave the fans a glimpse of his earlier days. During the video, his father pointed out as to how he started fighting. He said, “I started training when I was 17 years old because I got bullied a lot at my elementary school. So I started training, and I liked it. My mother sent me from Mexico City to New Mexico with her family because I was not doing well. I was drinking a lot. I would fight on the streets everyday so my mother decided to send me here.” 

The 19-year-old understands the kind of sacrifice his parents had to make for him to reach here and is always grateful to them. During one of his interviews with MMA Junkie, he said, “I’m very grateful for my parents.” While his father is taking away all the limelight, his mother, Oyuki Rios, also has a massive contribution in his life. Let us now take a closer look at the role of his mother.

More about Raul Rosas Jr.’s mother and other family members

After winning his debut fight at UFC 282, Rosas Jr. tried to convince Dana White to give him a post-fight bonus. During the post-fight interview, he said, “I need them 50G’s so I can buy my mother a minivan, and she can give me a ride to the PI.” Rosas Jr. did not have a driver’s license at that time, and his mother used to take him to practice sessions so that he didn’t miss any sessions. His mother also took up multiple part-time jobs after they shifted from Mexico to help with the expenses. The dream of becoming a UFC champion is still the main goal, and the family is moving toward it.

Their parents accompany him to most of his fights and will now be seen at the upcoming UFC 306 event at the Las Vegas Sphere. Raul Rosas Jr. will be taking on Qileng Aori in a highly exciting bantamweight clash. The teenage sensation is unbeaten in his last two fights and will look to keep his winning momentum going. He is definitely one of the rising stars in the UFC and, along with his skill set, has the mindset to become a future champion. Rosas Jr., in his last few appearances, seemed absolutely unstoppable. However, he will face a completely new challenge when he takes on his next opponent at UFC 306.

How high do you rate Raul Rosas Jr. as a fighter? Can he keep his winning momentum going at UFC 306 next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.