Las Vegas, NV — “Really happy” but “not satisfied” is how Raul Rosas Jr. felt following his octagon debut at UFC 282.
The 18-year old, now the youngest winning fighter in UFC history, submitted Jay Perrin seemingly with ease at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
It’s a testament to the success of the teen, who was just 17 when he won a UFC deal on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year, that the promotion placed him in the featured preliminary card slot in his promotional debut.
The crowd in attendance certainly reacted to Rosas Jr. (7-0), with the youngster getting perhaps the loudest cheer on the night outside of Paddy Pimblett.
So just how can he not be satisfied? Rosas Jr. clarified back stage that “I still don’t have what I want. What I want is the belt right here, with me. So I’m still not satisfied. I’m really happy with my performance tonight, but I’m still not happy until that belt is wrapped around my waist.”
And he would fight next weekend, if the opportunity arose. If not, Rosas Jr. suggested he could fight at UFC 283 in January in Rio, Brazil, alongside fellow Mexican star Brandon Moreno.
More mundane topics are at hand for time being, however. Like how Rosas Jr. will spend his winnings, especially should he earn a Performance of the Night award. “I asked for the 50K bonus so I can buy my mother a minivan, and she can give me a ride to the PI [UFC Performance Institute] already.”
That’s right — Rosas Jr. doesn’t actually have his license yet. Welcome to the reality of being a teen in the UFC.
“Not yet, if I’m being honest. I haven’t had time to go out there and get my license,” he told Cageside Press. “I can drive, I know how to drive, but my family does not trust me. But I like to be the passenger, I like to chill a little bit. Because going to practice, I can chill a little bit, but if I’m driving, I gotta be watching out. For me, I don’t have to get my license. My brother can be my Uber, and he can keep driving me anywhere.”
Watch the full UFC 282 post-fight media appearance from Raul Rosas Jr. above.
