Christian Rodriguez nonetheless has religion that 18-year-old prospect Raul Rosas Jr. can develop right into a respectable risk within the UFC. However his quick rise might have been an excessive amount of, too quickly.
Earlier this month at UFC 287, Rodriguez survived a harrowing first spherical, defending takedowns and a number of other submission makes an attempt to storm again and dominate Rosas earlier than profitable a unanimous resolution. Heading into the cardboard, all eyes have been on Rosas as he grew to become the youngest fighter on all the UFC roster and mapped out plans to interrupt Jon Jones’ report because the youngest-ever to seize UFC gold.
After spending quarter-hour within the cage with Rosas, Rodriguez was impressed by his opponent. He additionally realized Rosas nonetheless had some work to do.
“I really feel there’s nonetheless a number of holes in his sport, as in his entire MMA ability set,” Rodriguez stated on The MMA Hour. “Not that it’s dangerous, however I believe he must [get] extra snug together with his putting and stuff like that.
“I don’t suppose it’s dangerous thought if he fights out of the UFC, as a result of the UFC is the very best stage. It’s the very best stage of MMA, so it’s arduous.”
Rosas joined the UFC roster just some weeks shy of his 18th birthday as a contract winner on the promotion’s Contender Sequence. He made fairly an impression in his debut, dispatching Jay Perrin with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 282.
Heading into UFC 287, Rosas touted his principal card spot on pay-per-view and bragged about previous coaching classes the place he stated he bought the higher of reigning bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
The validity of these claims are unknown, however Rosas appeared the a part of a future UFC champion — till he bumped into Rodriguez. The Milwaukee native resisted submissions early after which battered his teenage opponent within the second and third rounds.
“Within the first spherical, I knew he was going to hurry me, however I didn’t suppose he was going to hurry me straight away,” Rodriguez stated. “He caught me actually unprepared. I believed we have been going to get within the octagon and type of determine one another out, however he went straight for the takedown. He took benefit of it. Within the second spherical, now I do know what I have to do, and I must be totally ready.
“Energy-wise, I did really feel somewhat little bit of a distinction. I did really feel I used to be stronger than him, however a battle at all times seems like a battle to me. It doesn’t matter the age or something, it’s at all times so chaotic in there.”
Whereas the highlight was on Rosas all week lengthy, Rodriguez by no means felt like he was being set as much as lose by the UFC. If something, he knew he had impressed UFC executives throughout his personal look on Contender Sequence, and that led to him being matched up in opposition to Rosas in a battle of prime prospects.
“All through time, I simply began considering I don’t suppose they care [who wins],” Rodriguez defined. “Simply because once I fought on [Contender Series], I did know that Dana [White] and Sean [Shelby] have been a fan of my model. So then I used to be like, they simply wish to see who generally is a greater star.”
Rodriguez is now anxious to maneuver ahead in his personal profession, and he likes the concept of preventing on the upcoming UFC 290 card in July, which caps off Worldwide Combat Week for the promotion in Las Vegas.
Rodriguez talked about 22-year-old bantamweight Cameron Saaiman as a possible matchup if the UFC is .
Rodriguez additionally isn’t able to shut the door on Rosas’ future simply due to one loss. However he is aware of there’s nonetheless a number of room for the teen to develop, particularly after he reached the UFC at such a remarkably younger age.
“I see [the potential],” Rodriguez stated. “He’s younger. He’s very, very younger. To be within the UFC at that age is likely one of the most uncommon issues to do. The child is nice.
“I did a full quarter-hour with that child, and I do have a number of respect towards him. I simply suppose he must take his time and take the fitting fights.”
