Raul Rosas, the father of UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. has opened up on why his son didn’t fight at UFC Mexico City on Saturday.
Rosas Jr. was set to face TUF 28 winner Ricky Turcios on the main card in an intriguing bantamweight clash. However, just moments before the two were supposed to make the walk the fight was canceled as Rosas Jr. was ill backstage.
Now, taking to his Instagram, Raul Rosas opened up on why his son didn’t fight at UFC Mexico City on Saturday.
Raul Rosas Jr.’s father and coach, Raul Sr., shed light on his son’s #UFCMexico withdrawal (via IG), saying the team was the one who made the call. pic.twitter.com/3FehplHhgP
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) February 25, 2024
“To all the people asking what happened to Raul, he was feeling lightheaded, dizziness and had low energy,” Rosas Jr. father, Raul Rosas, wrote on Instagram. “He still was ready, had his gear on and didn’t want to pull out of the fight, he was still gonna go out there and fight. But we as a team didn’t let him go out there, his health comes first and if he’s not 100 percent it’s not worth going out there right now. He’s getting checked by the doctors. Thank you all for the support to Raul, he’ll be back.”
As the elder Rosas says, his son still wanted to fight, but he decided to pull the plug on it as Rosas Jr. wasn’t close to 100 percent.
Ricky Turcios denies the fight being rebooked for Saturday
After Raul Rosas Jr. was pulled from the fight backstage, the broadcast mentioned the plan was to rebook the scrap for Saturday at UFC Vegas 87. UFC CEO Dana White also confirmed those plans at the post-fight press conference.
However, taking to his Instagram, Turcios says the fight won’t be rebooked as he says he beat Rosas Jr. on Saturday.
“FAKE NEWS,” Turcios declared on Instagram. “No fight contract has been signed yet for a new date. Last night Rosas Jr. said no fight literally five minutes before the walk out to fight in the octagon. Rosas Jr. said no to facing me in the octagon in front of his 20,000 Mexican fans in Mexico City. Rosas Jr. disrespected the Bushido code … very unprofessional. Ricky ‘TheUltimateFighter’ wins in Mexico City! Viva Mexico! Thank you to all my friends, family, and all the fans. ALL LOVE.”
Currently, the fight is not official for Saturday and if it doesn’t happen it’s unclear when or who Raul Rosas Jr. will fight next.