UFC’s youngest ever fighter needed parents to sign contract

A 17-year-old fighter has made the headlines this week as he signed his first contract with the UFC.

Fighter Raul Rosas Jr beat 25-year-old Mando Gutierrez earlier this week in the Contender Series to secure his place.

When interviewed in the aftermath of the fight, the teen said: "I will become the youngest UFC champion."

Rosas Jr is making UFC history as he is the youngest fighter to sign with the promotion - the previous youngest was Chase Hooper who was 19 when he signed the contract.

Many fans and pundits alike are impressed and even surprised with how quickly Rosas Jr has risen through the ranks.

However, in an interview with TMZ, the teen has said he has not surprised himself, and revealed how he had to hand over the contract to his parents.

"No, not really [surprised at how quickly he has come through the ranks] because I've been working my whole life for this moment," he said.

"Right now, everything going into existence, but I'm grateful for this opportunity, but not impressed."

He added: "My parents got to sign too because I'm a minor. So parental guardians got to be on there, too."

Despite only being 17, Rosas Jr boats an impressive CV already .

He has won all six of his professional fights to date, with the first of them coming against Eduardo Velazquez in November 2021.

Before the Mando Gutierrez fight in September, Rosas Jr beat Andres Portocarrero Pineda by TKO.

The teen also has an impressive amateur record, with an identical six wins to zero loses.

In that interview with TMZ, Rosas Jr also spoke on how his classmates are reacting to his momentous achievement.

He said: "A lot of them are happy and excited because they don't really know how this process works for me to get to the UFC.

"I never really explained it because it's a long process. They just like since middle school, like 'Hey when is Dana White [UFC boss] gonna sign you?'."

Speaking to reporters after Rosas Jr's fight against Gutierrez, UFC President Dana White was in no doubt the 17-year-old was UFC ready.

He said: "There was nothing to even discuss. We didn't even talk about it back there.

"I've never seen anything like it... He's absolutely positively talented, he's special, he's different. At 17 years old, you just don't see kids that age handle themselves like that."

LADbible has contacted Raul Rosas Jr and UFC for comment.