What Happened to Raul Rosas Jr.? Real Reason “Chiwiwi” Fighter Pulled Out From UFC Noche

“As much as I wanted this fight to prove myself against the best in the world, won’t be able to make it.” Disappointment hit Raul Rosas Jr. and his supporters when he was forced to pull out of Noche UFC. Being a Mexican-American, this must have been quite a blow for the 20-year-old. After all, he had created a good enough hype following his win at UFC 306 at the Sphere. And even then, he had almost pulled out. He had revealed that he was dealing with some injuries prior to the fight against Aori Qileng. But this time, the fighter who popularized the term “chiwiwis” actually did withdraw!

He was supposed to fight Rob Font this Saturday in San Antonio and get back into the rankings. So, what went wrong? Why isn’t Raul Rosas Jr. fighting for a spot in the top 15 at bantamweight?

Why is Raul Rosas Jr. not fighting Rob Font at UFC Noche?

Well, if you haven’t guessed it already, it’s because of an injury. Taking to Instagram last week, ‘El Nino Problema’ announced his withdrawal. He explained, “Injured my rib in training when I had someone on my back with a locked body triangle, I was trying to escape by spinning away and pulled it. I tried to push through it but didn’t heal & won’t fully heal in time.”

However, the nature of his injuries is still unknown. But since he was in a spinning motion, he might have damaged or strained his intercostal muscles. Otherwise, it might be a costochondral separation or a rib contusion. And all of these injuries need around six to eight weeks to heal up, and do not necessitate surgery.

Because of the uncertainty, the UFC’s officials had to get a new opponent for Font. And that’s the orthopedic surgeon from Mexico City, David Martinez. Needless to say, it’s going to be a pretty interesting matchup for the co-main spot.

But it’s worth noting that rib injuries are notorious for their lingering pain. Even if they are technically healed, some actions can still flare up the pain. But then again, ‘El Niño Problema’ is only 20 years old. His body can heal up pretty soon without any complications. So, when can we expect him to return and take up a fight?

When will Raul Rosas Jr. return?

Regarding his comeback, the Mexican star wrote, “Barely starting to get back into normal training so hopefully I’ll be back soon. Can’t wait to be back and earn my spot again against a top 15. Working my way up. Looking to heal soon and step back in the cage 2 more times this year.” But do we actually have a timeline for his return? Well, sort of…

While interacting with his fans through Instagram’s ‘Ask me a question’, some asked about his return. And Rosas’ response? He was hopeful that if things go well and he heals up, October might be the month of his return to the Octagon. And if he gets a match in October, he’d have to stay suspended for about 60 days, depending on the kind of injury he sustains in that bout. Which means, we might get to see him in the middle of December or January for the second time. 

For now, let’s hope that Raul Rosas Jr. gets well soon. But do you think he could have defeated Rob Font had he stayed back and fought?