Teen sensation Raul Rosas Jr., the youngest fighter on the UFC roster at just 18 years old, was handed a beating at UFC 287 by Christian Rodriguez. Despite a strong start in the first round, Rosas Jr. appeared fatigued and struggled to take down Rodriguez, who went on to win the fight with a unanimous 29-28 decision.

During the first round, it seemed as if Rosas Jr. had the upper hand, securing a takedown and working for a rear-naked choke. Rodriguez displayed excellent defense and managed to survive the round, even though Rosas Jr. was clearly dominant.

However, as the second round began, the tide turned. Rosas Jr. was noticeably slower and couldn’t get the fight to the ground. Rodriguez capitalized on this and took control, managing to keep Rosas Jr. at bay and deliver several short punches. The final round saw a similar pattern, with Rodriguez’s relentless attacks and solid defense leading to an ultimately one-sided fight.

Although Rodriguez missed weight by one pound on Friday, the 25-year old now boasts a 9-1 record in the UFC, winning two of his three fights in the promotion. Meanwhile, Rosas Jr., who holds a 7-1 record in MMA, experienced his first-ever defeat as a fighter. He became the youngest fighter in UFC history when he signed after winning on “Dana White’s Contender Series” at age 17, thanks to a special waiver signed by his parents.

UFC 287 provided some other notable bouts, with Kelvin Gastelum defeating Chris Curtis and Luana Pinheiro earning a split decision win over Michelle Waterson-Gomez. However, the night will likely be remembered for the epic battle between two young prospects, Rodriguez and Rosas Jr., who both have bright futures ahead in the UFC.