Raul Rosas Jr. secured his fourth consecutive win at UFC Mexico despite battling severe exhaustion due to the high altitude, demonstrating resilience and strategic adaptation after surviving a D’Arce choke attempt by Vince Morales, whom he had trained with previously.
Raul Rosas Jr. secured his fourth consecutive victory with a unanimous decision over Vince Morales at UFC Mexico. Interestingly, it wasn’t Morales’ late comeback attempt that posed a significant threat, but rather Rosas’ own conditioning.
As the third round began, Rosas was ahead on the scorecards. Morales made a desperate move with a D’Arce choke attempt. Despite Rosas grimacing from the submission’s pressure, Morales couldn’t lock in the hold to finish the fight.
Reflecting on the match, the 20-year-old prospect expressed confidence in his ability to withstand chokes. “To be honest, I wasn’t going to tap regardless,” Rosas told MMA Fighting. He elaborated on his resilience, noting he could endure chokes for extended periods without tapping out.
Rosas had trained specifically for this scenario, allowing partners to apply deep D’Arce chokes during camp. His preparation paid off as he felt comfortable even when Morales applied the deepest choke of the night—only about 55% effective, according to him.
Surprisingly, Rosas didn’t expect Morales to try the D’Arce again after failing in their previous training sessions. “I thought he would know…he wasn’t going to tap me,” Rosas said. Yet, he acknowledged Morales’ decision to give it another shot during the fight.
While the submission attempts didn’t faze him, Rosas admitted that Mexico City’s altitude was an entirely different challenge. Fighters often struggle with thin air there, and despite his preparations, Rosas faced unprecedented exhaustion during the three-round battle.
After round one, Rosas felt completely depleted. “When the first round ended, I was dead,” he confessed. His arms were unresponsive, forcing him to change tactics as he watched Morales appear fresh and ready for more.
Motivated by past experiences and a refusal to lose, Rosas dug deep and persevered through sheer willpower. Recalling a previous loss due to fatigue against Christian Rodriguez in 2023, he vowed not to let history repeat itself.
By the third round, Rosas was beyond exhausted—”zero to negative,” as he described it. Yet, he continued fighting and ultimately emerged victorious despite his physical state.
Reflecting on his performance, Rosas took pride in overcoming adversity and gaining valuable experience fighting at altitude. Although not his best showing, it taught him crucial lessons about managing energy across three rounds.
Looking forward, Rosas knows he’ll need better acclimatization if he returns to Mexico City. However, he’s open to future challenges there if the opportunity is right—even with logistical hurdles like limited team support.
“I’m always up for the challenge,” Rosas stated confidently. Now armed with firsthand experience of Mexico City’s demands, he’s better prepared for whatever comes next.