Daniel Cormier: Raul Rosas Jr.’s claim he can beat UFC champ Aljamain Sterling now is ‘youthful ignorance’
Daniel Cormier thinks Raul Rosas Jr. needs to slow down with his bold claims.
At 18, Rosas Jr. (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) became the youngest UFC winner when he submitted Jay Perrin in Round 1 this past Saturday at UFC 282.
Rosas Jr. made it look easy and recently said on The MMA Hour he thinks he can finish UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Cormier sees championship potential in Rosas, but not yet.
“I heard him do an interview and say he could beat Aljamain Sterling today,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” ESPN show. “I’m like, ‘Hey, wait a minute.’ But again, youthful ignorance. (He has) youthful ignorance because he believes he could be the champion right now. But I do believe that in time, there’s a lot of potential for Raul Rosas Jr. to be something very special in the UFC – especially being Mexican. The passion of the Hispanic fans – crazy, and he’s going to tap into that like all the great Mexican fighters that came before him.”
Sterling, who is projected to defend his title against Henry Cejudo next in March, had a sarcastic response to Rosas Jr.
“They should make that fight next. I really think that Rosas will f*ck him up! I heard Cejudos out and Rosas is in!”
They should make that fight next. I really think that Rosas will fu*k him up! I heard Cejudos out and Rosas is in! https://t.co/Hc70x3v2Gv
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 13, 2022
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UFC 282 post-event facts: 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. etches name in record books with debut win
