Seventeen-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. made history as he claimed victory on Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series and earned a UFC contract in the process.
Rosas became the youngest fighter ever signed by the UFC by defeating Mando Gutierrez in his bantamweight bout at the UFC Apex. His victory saw him earn a UFC deal alongside the other four winners on the night, Brunno Ferreira, Austen Lane, Nurullo Aliev and Jafel Filho.
Here’s how the action unfolded at the UFC Apex on Tuesday night:
Brunno Ferreira def. Leon Aliu via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
In the night’s featured bout, it didn’t take long for undefeated Brazilian middleweight Brunno Ferreira to make his mark as he finished Italian hopeful Leon Aliu via first-round TKO.
The pair started out trading shots, and Ferreira made his power count early as he stunned the Italian with a big left hand.
With Aliu looking discombobulated, the Brazilian moved in and followed up with a flurry of punches to force the finish just over a minute and a half into the bout.
Raul Rosas Jr. def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The headline-making bout of the night came in the penultimate matchup, as 17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. earned his UFC deal with a shutout win over Mando Gutierrez.
Rosas seemed determined to showcase every technique in his arsenal as he attempted a plethora of submissions during a wild opening round, but he couldn’t quite find the finish he desperately wanted.
The bout settled down in Round 2, with Gutierrez establishing a foothold in the bout. But Rosas still held the upper hand throughout, meaning he was in a commanding position heading into the final frame.
Rosas went on the attack again in Round 3 as he chased a final-round finish, but Gutierrez did enough to avoid trouble and take the fight the distance.
Austen Lane def. Richard Jacobi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:34
Former NFL player and repeat Contender Series hopeful Austen Lane earned himself a UFC deal at the second time of asking.
Lane, who was knocked out by Greg Hardy in the Contender Series back in 2018, regrouped and put together a five-fight win streak that stretched back to September 2020 in order to earn his second shot.
And the former fifth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars showed his evolution as a fighter as he worked his way out from the bottom to eventually finish Richard Jacobi with ground strikes with 26 seconds remaining in the opening round.
It extended his win streak to six, with all six coming inside the distance, as he punched his ticket to the UFC in style.
Nurullo Aliev def. Josh Wick via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:36
Another fighter to score a late first-round finish was Nurullo Aliev, who finished Josh Wick via TKO, but it was his mastery on the mat that impressed as he dominated proceedings to earn himself a UFC contract.
Aliev looked streets ahead of Wick on the ground as he worked his way into dominant position before hammering his opponent with elbows until the referee waved off the fight with 24 seconds left in the opening round.
Jafel Filho def. Roybert Echeverria via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:09
The opening bout of the night also saw a stoppage, but it came later in proceedings, as Jafel Filho claimed a third-round TKO of Roybert Echeverria.
After two well-contested rounds, Filho looked to be in serious difficulty in the final frame as a result of Echeverria’s relentless leg kick attack.
But, despite clearly struggling with the after-effects of Echeverria’s leg kicks, Filho summoned up enough grit to plant his feet and connect with a big left hook that floored Echeverria as he closed in to complete the finish and earn the win.
Dana White’s Contender Series: Week 9 Results
- Brunno Ferreira def. Leon Aliu via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Mando Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Austen Lane def. Richard Jacobi via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:34
- Nurullo Aliev def. Josh Wick via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:36
- Jafel Filho def. Roybert Echeverria via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:09
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