After his impressive victory on Saturday night, Raul Rosas Jr. earned high praise from Conor McGregor for becoming the youngest UFC fighter to win on his debut.
Rosas became the youngest fighter to compete in UFC when he faced Jay Perrin at UFC 282 Saturday at the age of 18 years and 63 days. The record was previously held by Dan Lauzon, who was 18 years and 198 days old when he competed at UFC 64 in 2006.
He took his record-breaking debut one step further by beating Perrin, submitting him at 2:44 of the first with a rear naked choke.
Raul Rosas Jr. became the youngest UFC fighter to win on his debut by submitting Jay Perrin
UFC icon Conor McGregor took to Twitter to praise the 18-year-old on his debut fight
RAUL ROSAS FORCES THE TAP IN HIS UFC DEBUT 🤩 #UFC282
STREAM #UFC282 ON @ESPNPLUS ➡️ https://t.co/4XaKa7EqGb pic.twitter.com/qMrXGjqL3T
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 11, 2022
‘El Nino Problema’ impressed the sporting world, garnering many plaudits on social media, including UFC icon McGregor.
The Irishman took to Twitter to praise the youngster and warn him he is keeping an eye on him – although he incidentally got his name wrong in the process, calling him Paul instead of Raul.
McGregor posted: ‘Paul Rosas- great debut, watching you !’
Following his dream debut, the 18-year-old admitted he felt like he ‘was living in a movie’.
The Irishman claimed he would be watching ‘El Nino Problema’ through his blossoming career
Following his dream debut, the youngster admitted he felt like he ‘was living in a movie’
‘I feel amazing,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t really expecting it. This is one of many more to come.
‘I thank God that I came out safe and I’m ready to step back in there next Saturday or in Brazil, whenever I have to. I’m ready to go back in as soon as possible. I’m living like [in] a movie right now.’
While Rosas himself may not have been expecting the win, others had hyped up the youngster prior to the fight, including UFC president Dana White.
Rosas signed for the UFC at 17, again the youngest man ever to do so, and had impressed White on the Contender Series.
"I living like [in] a movie right now"."
Raul Rosas Jr. shined in his UFC debut 🍿 #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/pg37Y5E2KM
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 11, 2022
On his debut, Rosas beat Perrin by submitting him at 2:44 of the first with a rear naked choke
White said: ‘For a 17-year-old to conduct himself the way he did in this fight, I was blown away by it.
‘He’s not one of these guys that’s a jiu-jitsu guy that just lays around, and whatever,’ he added.
‘He’s always going for something, how slick he is, how he takes the back. When you get his back, how he can get out. Just everything that kid did impressed me and especially his cardio.
‘I’m very, very impressed with this kid. He’s absolutely special. The amount of fighters that were blowing me up going, ‘Oh my God. This kid is for real. This kid is legit. Impressive.’
Still in high school, Rosas will be back in class next week but it is likely he will be back in the Octagon in 2023.
