Charles Rosa

Overview

Thirteen UFC fights, and only one of them ended before the final bell for the other guy's benefit. Charles Rosa, "Boston Strong," is a Sanford MMA featherweight from Peabody, Massachusetts, with a 5-8 UFC record and 14-8 across all promotions.

His career is a story of close fights. Ten of his 13 UFC bouts went the distance, and he is 3-7 in those. When he does finish, it comes by submission: two wins, no knockouts.

Three straight losses is what he carries into his next fight.

UFC Career

Rosa debuted in October 2014 against Dennis Siver and lost a unanimous decision. He bounced back in January 2015 with his first UFC win, submitting Sean Soriano in round 3 at 4:43. A split-decision loss to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 188 followed, then a unanimous decision over Kyle Bochniak in January 2016.

The next stretch was slow. After a third-round TKO loss to Shane Burgos at UFC 210 in April 2017, Rosa did not fight in the UFC again until October 2019. The return was his best night: a first-round submission of Manny Bermudez in 2:46.

That win did not start a run. Bryce Mitchell took a unanimous decision at UFC 249 in May 2020, and Rosa answered a month later with a split-decision win over Kevin Aguilar. His longest win streak in the UFC is one fight.

From there it tilted against him. Darrick Minner won a unanimous decision in February 2021, and Rosa edged Justin Jaynes by split decision that June. Then came three straight unanimous-decision losses, to Damon Jackson, TJ Brown and Nathaniel Wood.

Three of his five wins went to a decision, and two of those were splits. Margins like that are why the record sits where it does.

Fighting Style

Rosa is a submission hunter. He goes after chokes and locks far more often than most fighters in the UFC, and the finishes match: both of his stoppage wins came by submission, one in the first round and one in the third.

His striking is middle of the road. He lands and absorbs strikes at about the UFC average rate, but he isn't accurate and he gets hit more than he should. He shoots for takedowns at a normal pace, though he gets taken down far more easily than most.

That mix has shown up on the scorecards. Seven of his eight losses went the distance, and the only time he was stopped came by knockout or TKO.

Notable Wins

• Manny Bermudez — submission, round 1 (2:46), UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Weidman (2019)
• Sean Soriano — submission, round 3 (4:43), UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs Siver (2015)
• Kevin Aguilar — split decision, round 3, UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. Calvillo (2020)

Quick Facts

• Division: Featherweight
• UFC record: 5-8 (2 submissions, 3 decisions)
• Professional record (all promotions): 14-8-0
• UFC debut: 2014
• Stance: Switch
• Height / reach: 5'9" / 69"
• Team: Sanford MMA
• Born: Peabody, United States