Rosas Jr. submits Covington in 43 seconds at Hype Fighting grappling event in Italy

Raul Rosas Jr. needed less than a minute to finish Colby Covington, submitting the former UFC welterweight title challenger via rear naked choke at the 43-second mark of their submission-only grappling match at Hype Fighting in Italy on Tuesday. Rosas accepted the bout on late notice after Dillon Danis pulled out.

Despite giving up a significant size advantage against the much larger Covington, Rosas showed no hesitation. He secured an early takedown that visibly surprised Covington, quickly climbed to his back, and locked in the rear naked choke before Covington could mount any meaningful defence. The tap came with 9 minutes and 17 seconds still remaining in the scheduled 10-minute match.

“It feels great,” Rosas said afterwards. “I was here in 2019, I became a world champ, so I’m glad to be back against a legend like Colby Covington. Being able to do it in front of Conor McGregor — he’s a legend.”

The UFC bantamweight contender, who most recently defeated Raoni Barcelos inside the Octagon, used the occasion to signal his ambitions at the highest level. “I’m going to become the youngest UFC champion. I’m coming for that belt. That’s my main goal. This is just a second thing we do for entertainment.”

Covington, for his part, offered no excuses. “I just came out a little slow,” he 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 loss is a footnote for Covington rather than a detour, as he turns his attention to a wrestling-based return in RAF in Abu Dhabi in two weeks, where he is set to face Khamzat Chimaev. Rosas, meanwhile, awaits his next UFC assignment following the Barcelos victory.