Raul Rosas Jr. achieved his fourth consecutive victory with a unanimous decision against Vince Morales at UFC Mexico. However, he admitted that the high altitude posed a greater challenge than his opponent`s late submission attempt.
In the third round, although Rosas was ahead on points, Morales attempted a D’Arce choke. Rosas felt the pressure but remained confident he wouldn`t tap out, regardless of the choke`s intensity. He explained his extensive training to defend against D’Arce chokes, highlighting his ability to withstand them. He estimated Morales` most threatening attempt was only 55% effective and not enough to force a submission.
Rosas expressed surprise that Morales even tried the D’Arce choke, considering their previous training sessions where Morales was unable to submit him. He recalled a past training session where Morales applied a very tight D’Arce choke for a full minute without success.
While the submission was not a serious threat, the altitude in Mexico City presented a significant hurdle. Despite his preparations, Rosas was unprepared for the extreme exhaustion he experienced during the fight.
By the end of the first round, Rosas felt completely depleted, with his arms too tired to strike. He described feeling “dead” and was surprised by his level of fatigue compared to Morales, who appeared fresh. Rosas remembered his previous defeat against Christian Rodriguez, where he also ran out of energy, and was determined to avoid a repeat. Despite feeling utterly exhausted, he mentally persevered and secured the win.
He emphasized the extreme fatigue, especially in the third round, calling it the most tired he had ever been in a fight. Even the day after, he still felt breathless, as if he had just completed a long run.
Rosas acknowledged that it wasn`t his best performance but valued the experience of fighting at altitude and learning to manage extreme fatigue. He views this fight as a valuable lesson in winning rounds and managing fights beyond just seeking finishes, which will be crucial for his future matches. Regarding fighting in Mexico City again, Rosas is open to it for significant opportunities, although the logistical challenges of bringing his full team remain a concern. He believes his experience will make future high-altitude fights more manageable.
