Raul Rosas Jr. secured his fourth consecutive victory by unanimous decision against Vince Morales at UFC Mexico. However, it wasn`t a submission attempt from his opponent that posed the greatest threat, but rather the challenging high altitude conditions.
In the third round, despite leading on points, Rosas faced a desperate submission attempt from Morales, who locked in a D’Arce choke. While Rosas appeared to be in discomfort, he asserts that he was never in danger of submitting.
Reflecting on the fight, the 20-year-old prospect stated he was confident in his defense against chokes, particularly the D’Arce. He explained his extensive training, where he would allow training partners to apply deep chokes to build resistance and endurance.
Rosas mentioned his past training experience with Morales, where he had previously defended against his D’Arce choke attempts. He was somewhat surprised Morales attempted the submission during the fight, given his prior experience in training.
While the submission didn`t worry Rosas, the altitude in Mexico City presented a significant challenge. Fighters often struggle with the reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes. Despite his preparation, Rosas was unprepared for the extreme exhaustion he experienced during the three-round fight.
Rosas admitted he had to adjust his fight strategy due to the altitude. After the first round, he felt completely drained.
“When the first round concluded, I was completely exhausted,” Rosas explained. “I had no energy left. My arms felt useless, which is why I stopped striking. Usually, I relax in the corner, but this time I immediately asked for water because I was so dehydrated. Then, as I stood for the second round and saw my opponent bouncing around, looking fresh, I realized how fatigued I was.”
Rosas recalled his previous loss to Christian Rodriguez, where exhaustion played a key role. Determined to avoid a repeat, he pushed through his fatigue, focusing on securing the win despite his physical state.
He described feeling even more exhausted in the third round, reaching a new level of fatigue. Rosas expressed pride in his ability to overcome this extreme tiredness and secure the victory.
The day after the fight, Rosas was still feeling the effects of the altitude, experiencing breathlessness as if he had completed a long run. He believes the intense exertion during the fight led to prolonged physical exhaustion.
Despite the difficulties, Rosas is proud of his resilience and ability to win under challenging circumstances. While not his most flawless performance, he values the experience gained from fighting at altitude and managing his fatigue during the bout.
Rosas acknowledges the importance of learning to win fights even when unable to secure a finish. He aims to integrate this experience into his future fights, balancing his finishing instincts with strategic round management.
Regarding fighting in Mexico City again, Rosas recognizes the need for better acclimatization to the altitude. However, he remains open to the challenge, especially for significant fights.
The primary concern for Rosas about fighting in Mexico City again is the logistical challenge of bringing his full team, rather than the altitude itself. With the experience he has now gained, he feels better prepared to handle the altitude in the future.
Wesley Dunham