Raul Rosas Jr. Will Fight In UFC With Minors Special License

Mixed martial artist (MMA) from Mexico Raul Rosas Jr. (Photo: Twitter @MMAFighting)

JAKARTA - Mixed martial arts (MMA) artist from Mexico Raul Rosas Jr. will fight in the UFC even though he is only 17 years old. He fights with a special minors license.

Although he can almost legally consume alcohol and apply for a driver's license (SIM), he needs permission from the legal authorities to be able to duel in the octagon.

"I was 15 years old when I started my amateur career," Rosas said recently in an interview with MMA Junkie quoted by Marca.

"Because it's in Indian territory, it's mostly down to the promoter. We finally convinced him and he finally gave me a chance to fight," continued Rosas.

In the history of mixed martial arts, it is unheard of for a 17-year-old to fight professionally in the UFC. However, the exception with Rosas who is very familiar with the sport.

He is noted to have beaten adult fighters as long as physically possible. His achievement changed the unwritten rule in Mexico about what 'kids' could achieve in MMA.

"Then my other amateur fight when I was 16 years old. Then, I made my professional debut when I was 17 years old," he said.

"I'm fighting guys who are in their 30s. The oldest fighter I've fought is 33 or 34, the youngest is 25 or 26," he added.

Rosas and his team had to go through many hurdles to get verbal approval from government officials. They must apply for a special license with the consent of the sponsor and their parents.

"The commission has approved it. I've signed all the documents. All I have to do is notarize. My friend signed it. That's the only thing I have to do," he said.

Rosas has so far recorded a 5-0 record since turning professional. All the victories he got made doubts about him for a duel in the UFC faded.

Rosas insists those who doubt her are those who don't realize that she is not like a typical 17-year-old.

"I don't think those guys know much about fighting. They just saw a 17-year-old kid," he said.

"I'm different from (other) 17-year-olds. When they're at parties, when they're on summer vacation, I'm at the game, working hard," he added.

"Since childhood, I know what I want. I know what I want and I have to get it. To the doubters, I don't really care. They can say whatever they want," he concluded.