Raul Rosas Jr. is a talent that comes into the promotion once in a blue moon. The New Mexico native is the youngest fighter to have ever graced the Octagon. With a record of 9 victories and 1 defeat, Rosas is the next big thing not only in the highly competitive bantamweight division but also in the UFC. His last victory against Ricky Turcios proved that the young talent is not to be taken lightly, especially when he has an 89 % finish rate.

Such ͏do͏m͏inance at such͏ a young age, e͏special͏ly in ͏th͏is ͏weigh͏t͏ class,͏ is rar͏e, bu͏t ͏Ra͏ul͏ Rosa͏s Jr. has ͏proven that t͏he usual e͏͏xpectation͏s around age d͏o͏͏n’t ͏app͏ly to hi͏m. Sp͏eaking of w͏hich, let us find out who is responsible for ͏traini͏ng thi͏s͏ 19-y͏e͏ar͏-͏ol͏͏d ͏phe͏n͏ome͏n͏on.

All about Raul Rosas Jr.’s coaches and gym

Rau͏l͏ ͏͏͏R͏͏͏osas Jr͏. ͏͏ha͏s͏͏ been͏ ͏͏͏͏tra͏i͏͏͏͏͏͏͏n͏͏͏ing͏ u͏nd͏͏er͏ hi͏s͏ ͏fathe͏͏r͏, R͏aul͏ Ro͏s͏a͏s ͏Sr͏͏. The y͏o͏ung fig͏͏hte͏͏͏r has n͏ot ͏͏͏͏͏bee͏n͏͏ ͏a͏ffi͏liate͏͏d͏͏͏ ͏͏w͏͏͏͏͏͏i͏͏͏t͏͏h any͏͏ gym͏ a͏nd ͏p͏re͏fe͏͏r͏s͏ ͏͏to tr͏a͏i͏͏͏n on͏ ͏͏his own, along͏side ͏his br͏o͏the͏͏͏r J͏͏e͏ssie R͏osas an͏d͏ K͏͏͏ev͏in ͏Rosas. ͏However͏,͏͏͏͏ t͏his ͏͏wa͏͏͏͏s ͏͏no͏t ͏alw͏͏ays ͏the͏͏͏͏ ͏cas͏e;͏ Ra͏͏u͏l ͏Ros͏͏͏͏͏as͏͏ ͏Jr. w͏a͏s ͏on͏͏͏ce͏ tr͏aining u͏͏͏͏nder͏͏͏ ͏͏͏hi͏s͏ ͏͏͏coach a͏nd͏ te͏am͏͏m͏͏a͏te, ͏the͏ l͏ate ͏T͏͏rev͏or ͏͏Coo͏p͏͏er͏.͏

Cooper was Rosas Jr.’s teammate when he was at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. When Rosas suffered the lone loss of his career against Christian Rodriguez, it was Cooper who came to him and ascertained the mistakes that he had been making in his fighting style. While in conversation with the media, Rosas highlighted, “He meant a lot to me, he was like my brother, like my coach.”.

He further added, “He believed in me a lot. He is the one that helped me the most to correct when I lost to Christian Rodriguez. He wasn’t in my corner but he saw the fight. And then he started training me and he corrected every single mistake, every single detail, even mistakes that I didn’t realize, he realized. And that’s how he made me [a] much better fighter.”

Trevor Cooper’s demise was a sad affair for Rosas but he knew in order to get past his limits he would have to move forward and that is what he had been doing. Regardless, his father and Trevor Cooper are not the only people who have him valuable lessons in his MMA journey.

Rosas Jr. trains with Sean O’Malley

Despite being trained by multiple coaches, Raul Rosas Jr. is hungry for more as the bantamweight division promises more to every fighter. In addition to training under his father, Rosas Jr has trained alongside Team O’Malley as well. The young phenomenon has trained under the tutelage of bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley when after he grabbed the 135 lbs belt.

Despite training under O’Malley, Rosas Jr. believes that ‘Suga’ being the champion has both pros and cons for the division. He discussed this perspective during a conversation with MMA Junkie. He stated, “I think it’s good for the division because it brings more attention to the division.”

And that’s not all, as like all fighters in the promotion, young Rosas too has his eye set on the title. This is certainly clear as he contemplated the prospective possibility of a face-off between the mentor and mentee. He thus added, “I know that he’s someone that, if we ever fight in the future, it’s a fight that would be huge in the division. I don’t know if it will ever happen because I think he’s looking for – like I don’t know if he’s going to defend his title much because I saw he was trying to fight Gervonta Davis and stuff like that, so I don’t know if he’s going to want to do other things.”

Regardless, what’s your take on Raul Rosas Jr.’s confession? State your thoughts in the comments below.