How does Raul Rosas Jr. balance high school life and his UFC career?

Raul Rosas Jr., the youngest-ever fighter to compete in the UFC, is still in high school. The 18-year-old bantamweight prospect is the youngest fighter to be signed to the UFC roster after he beat Mando Gutierrez in Dana White's Contender Series back in September.

Raul Rosas Jr. will make his UFC debut against Jay Perrin in the prelims of UFC 282 on December 10.

At the UFC 282 pre-fight media scrum, 'El Nino Problema' spoke about his MMA career and how he balances it with life as a high-schooler. Rosas Jr. is currently in his senior year of high school. When asked by Brett Okamoto what it's like being a UFC fighter in high school, Raul Rosas Jr. said the following:

"I actually never thought about being in the UFC while still being in high school. I imagine having a pro record and everything but I didn't imagine being in the UFC while being in high-school. So, you know, it's crazy for me to think about it like that."

Rosas Jr. is currently being home-schooled to make time for his career as a UFC fighter. On being asked about his life as an 18-year-old and how different it is to others his age, Raul Rosas Jr. said the following:

"I had to sacrifice all of that - like hanging out with friends, going to parties. I get invited to parties or to go chill at my friends house, just do whatever. But, I don't have time for that because I'm always at the gym and preparing for my next fight. So, that's something I've had to sacrifice, so I think about it like: 'Sacrifice now, enjoy later'. So, right now, I'll sacrifice all that, but after it's all said and done, I'm just going to go out there and, like, be partying and stuff, going crazy."

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What does Raul Rosas Jr. think about his debut opponent Jay Perrin?

Raul Rosas Jr. exudes extreme confidence going into his bout with Jay Perrin at UFC 282 on December 10, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Las Vegas. 'El Nino Problema' said that there's nothing in Perrin's game that stands out to him.

In the UFC 282 pre-fight scrum, Jay Perrin said that he respects Rosas Jr.'s skills, although he thinks his opponent is 'unpolished' and hasn't been tested. In regards to Rosas Jr.'s aspirations of becoming the youngest UFC champ, Perrin said: 'Yeah, and I want to be Santa Claus.'

Skip to 8:00 for Perrin's comments:

The 18-year-old Mexican-born fighter said the following about in response to Perrin's 'Santa Claus' comment:

"He would actually do a better job in being Santa Claus than being a fighter. I mean, after this fight, that dream can come true - his dream of being Santa Claus can come true. He can go ahead and go dress like Santa Claus and stand outside the mall, and some kids can take pictures with him."

Skip to 3:49 for Rosas Jr.'s response: