Harshad Patel
Raul Rosas Jr. faced off against Ricky Turcios at UFC Louisville after their original fight was canceled in February due to Rosas falling ill. Turcios harbored animosity over the cancellation, which led to a heated exchange during their faceoff before the fight. Rosas, however, bore no ill will towards Turcios, believing that Turcios let his emotions get the best of him.
Despite Turcios showing early success, Rosas gained control in the second round by dominating him in grappling exchanges, eventually securing a rear-naked choke that forced Turcios to tap out.
After the fight, Rosas and Turcios exchanged words, seemingly settling their dispute. Rosas recounted the conversation, where both fighters expressed mutual respect despite the tensions leading up to the fight.
During their exchange, Turcios revealed to Rosas that he competed with a staph infection, which Rosas understood, as he himself had fallen ill before their original matchup in Mexico City.
Rosas chose not to fight that night because he knew he wouldn’t be at his best. He emphasized that he wouldn’t have used illness as an excuse had he lost and expressed hope that Turcios wouldn’t do the same.
Despite the initial bout cancellation and ensuing tension, Rosas put an end to the feud by securing a clear-cut victory via submission. Looking ahead, he eagerly anticipates challenging adversaries, setting his sights on a comeback at UFC 306 in Las Vegas this September.
Expressing his ambition for a notable showdown, Rosas aims to bolster his career with a prominent matchup on the Mexican Independence Day card.
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