Raul Rosas Jr. secured a unanimous decision victory against Vince Morales at UFC Mexico, although he faced a challenging comeback attempt from his opponent in the later stages of the fight.
Rosas Jr. started strongly, effectively taking Morales down multiple times and threatening with submission attempts, maintaining control on the ground. In the third round, Morales mounted a desperate offense, nearly locking in a D’Arce choke that could have ended the fight. However, Rosas Jr. managed to escape and hold on until the final bell.
The judges all scored the bout 29-28 in favor of Rosas Jr., who expressed his excitement at winning in front of the enthusiastic Mexican crowd.
“Dana [White], thank you for giving me the opportunity to redeem myself in front of my Mexican fans tonight,” Rosas Jr. stated, referring to a previous UFC Mexico event he had to withdraw from due to illness. “I’m only 20 years old, with five wins in the UFC. Watch my growth over the years. I’m ready for anyone who will lead me to that belt. Let’s do it.”
From the start, Rosas Jr. achieved an early takedown, landing sharp punches and elbows while Morales was defending from his back. Despite Morales’s defensive efforts, Rosas Jr. remained aggressive, constantly scrambling and gaining dominant positions on the ground.
Rosas Jr.’s relentless offense created an opening for Morales, who executed a well-timed reversal and attempted a Peruvian necktie submission just before the end of the first round.
Continuing into the subsequent rounds, Rosas Jr. maintained forward pressure. With Morales posing little threat on their feet, the young prospect successfully took the fight back to the ground. Although Morales made him work, Rosas Jr. maintained control and accumulated points on the scorecards.
In a last-ditch effort to turn the tide, Morales came close to a finish by securing an anaconda choke and transitioning to a D’Arce choke, briefly suggesting he might secure a finish. However, Rosas Jr. remained composed, constantly moving and eventually breaking free to regain top position.
Morales made one final attempt to secure a submission just as the fight concluded, but Rosas Jr. held on to confirm his victory.
Rosas Jr. has now achieved four consecutive wins since his only career loss, demonstrating continuous improvement with each performance. With the UFC’s planned return to Mexico in September for the third Noche UFC event, Rosas Jr. might hope to be booked for that card after receiving a strong reception for his recent win on Saturday.
