17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. sets high career expectations: 'I will become the youngest UFC champion'

LAS VEGAS – Raul Rosas Jr. is not short of confidence. Not at all.

The 17-year-old impressed many with his dominant showing on Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 55 at the UFC Apex. Rosas (6-0) defeated 25-year-old Mando Gutierrez by unanimous decision with clean 30-27 scorecards from all three judges.

The victory added to his unbeaten record, but also caught the attention of UFC president Dana White, who gave Rosas a UFC contract for the win. Many weren’t sure if Rosas was going to get a contract given his young age, but the Mexican prospect had no doubts it was coming his way.

“Hell no, I’m here for a reason,” Rosas told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight when asked if there was fear of not being signed to the UFC roster. “I knew he was going to give me that contract, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I’m 17, and I’m 6-0.

“I know what I can do, and (White) knows what I can do. Well, he really doesn’t, but he will know what I can do out there. I would fight this Saturday, but I heard there’s no event this Saturday, so I’ll fight when they have another event. I’m just ready to go out there and get the kill.”

Rosas might be young, but his goals don’t stop merely at joining the UFC. “El Niño Problema” is out to make history in the octagon and that’s becoming the youngest champion in UFC history – a record that is currently held by Jon Jones, who first claimed gold at 23.

“I’m just ready to fight like every week, every month – I don’t even care,” Rosas said. “I’m all gas, no breaks. Like I said, I’ll rest when I’ll retire, when I’m old. You know, now we’re just getting started, so there’s no reason to take a break.

“I know it won’t be easy, but nothing is easy in this life. I will become the youngest UFC champion. I don’t care what it takes, nobody is going to take this away from me. If I could fight a top five in my UFC debut, I would, but I have to work my way up there, and I will be up there soon. I will become the youngest UFC champion when I’m like 19, 20, 21. It doesn’t matter.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 55.