UFC bantamweight contender Raul Rosas Jr. recently shared his thoughts on when he might retire from mixed martial arts and the factors that could influence his decision to leave the sport.
At just 21 years old and holding a professional record of 12 wins and only one loss, Rosas Jr. is enjoying a five-fight winning streak inside the UFC. His notable victories include impressive wins over Rob Font and Vince Morales.
This weekend, the Mexican fighter will face Raoni Barcelos at the Meta Apex venue.
In an interview with Full Send MMA during fight week, Rosas Jr. opened up about his potential retirement plans. He revealed that if he achieves all his career goals by the age of 25, he intends to retire from MMA. “El Niño Problema” stated:
“If by 25 I’ve accomplished everything I want to accomplish in my career, then I’m gonna step back from the sport.”
His current roadmap involves first capturing the UFC bantamweight championship, defending it a few times, and then moving up one or possibly two weight classes—featherweight and lightweight—to chase titles there as well. He explained:
“The goal is to get the belt and then defend it a couple of times. Try to challenge myself, go up a weight class, maybe two. After I run out of goals, that’s when I will [retire]. It could be 26, 27, 28… Whenever I am done with my goals that’s when I will step out of the game.”
Watch Raul Rosas Jr.’s full statement below:
Ahead of UFC Vegas 121, Rosas Jr. is eager to make a strong impression against Raoni Barcelos. On media day, he acknowledged Barcelos’s experience and praised his wins over fighters like Payton Talbott and Montel Jackson. Rosas Jr. also mentioned that he expected to face Barcelos eventually.
Despite Barcelos’s veteran status and his own five-fight winning streak, Rosas Jr. believes he possesses what it takes to end Barcelos’s run.
Hear more from Raul Rosas Jr. below:
Fan Take: Raul Rosas Jr.’s early talk of retirement adds a fascinating layer to his already impressive rise, reminding fans that even young athletes are thinking about their legacies. His ambition to conquer multiple divisions before possibly stepping away could reshape conversations about career longevity and goal-setting in MMA.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
