Raul Rosas Jr. delivered a stunning grappling performance against Colby Covington, submitting the former UFC interim welterweight champion in just 43 seconds at Hype FC in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday.
The UFC bantamweight contender stepped in on short notice after Dillon Danis withdrew from the matchup. Despite facing an opponent considerably larger and renowned for his wrestling pedigree, Rosas wasted little time turning the contest into a one-sided affair.
The 10-minute submission-only bout ended almost as soon as it began, with Rosas securing a rear-naked choke that forced “Chaos” to tap.
Raul Rosas Jr. Submits Colby Covington In Under A Minute
“El Nino Problema” immediately pursued a takedown at the opening bell, bringing Covington to the mat before transitioning to his back. The 22-year-old maintained control as Covington attempted to escape, staying attached through a scramble and continuing to attack his opponent’s neck.
After briefly threatening an armbar, Rosas returned to the choke and dragged Covington back to the mat. He secured a body triangle and locked in the rear-naked choke, leaving the former UFC title challenger with little choice but to submit.
The result was particularly impressive given the physical disparity between the two competitors. Rosas fights at 135 pounds in the UFC, while Covington previously competed at welterweight and has built much of his reputation around elite wrestling.
Following the victory, “El Nino Problema” praised Covington for accepting the matchup and expressed his ambition to become the youngest UFC champion.
I’m going to become the youngest UFC champion. I’m coming for that belt. That’s my main goal,” Rosas said. “This is just a second thing we do for entertainment. I’m glad to be able to share this with Colby Covington.
The rising contender also acknowledged Conor McGregor, who was watching from ringside, calling the former UFC champion a legend.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17yHSWecib/
“Chaos” refused to make excuses for the defeat, admitting that his lack of recent experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu contributed to his slow start.
I just came out a little slow,” Covington said. “This is the first time I’ve done jiu-jitsu in years. Every setback is a good opportunity for a comeback. I will get my hand raised next time.
The 38-year-old American has since shifted his focus toward freestyle wrestling with Real American Freestyle. Covington captured the promotion’s crossover cruiserweight title and is scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14.
