# Charles Rosa

Charles Rosa (born August 24, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division. A professional since 2012, he is most notable for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

## Background

Charles, of Italian descent is the son of Chucky and Mary Rosa and was born and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts. Rosa's father, grandfather, and uncle were all professional boxers. Rosa had two older brothers, Domenic and Vincent, who both died from accidental drug overdoses. He also has a sister, Teresa, and two younger brothers, Lucas and Francis. Growing up, Rosa played football, hockey, lacrosse, and also trained in karate.
Rosa continued playing lacrosse at Johnson & Wales University, where he also earned a degree in the culinary arts. After graduating from the college, Rosa later relocated to Florida to find a fresh start. Looking for a boxing gym, Rosa stumbled upon American Top Team gym, where he began to train in mixed martial arts.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Rosa compiled an amateur MMA record of 11–2 and made his professional debut in 2012 competing in regional promotions across the Northeastern United States. He compiled an undefeated record of 9–0, finishing all of his opponents before signing with the UFC in the summer of 2014.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rosa made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement against Dennis Siver on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53, replacing an injured Robert Whiteford. Siver won the back and forth fight via unanimous decision. Subsequently, both participants earned Fight of the Night honors.
Rosa faced Sean Soriano on January 18, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 59. Rosa won the bout via submission in the third round.
Rosa then faced Yair Rodríguez on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He lost the fight by split decision. Despite the loss, Rosa also earned his second Fight of the Night bonus award.
Rosa was originally expected to face Jimy Hettes on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81. However, Hettes pulled out of the fight in the week leading up to the event and was very briefly replaced by promotional newcomer Augusto Mendes. Just two days later, Mendes was removed from the fight and was replaced by Kyle Bochniak. Rosa won the fight via unanimous decision.
Rosa faced Shane Burgos on April 8, 2017, at UFC 210. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night for their performance.
Rosa was expected to face Mizuto Hirota on September 23, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 117. However, the bout was canceled on the day of the weigh-ins as Hirota missed weight and was deemed medically unfit to compete.
Rosa was expected to face Dan Ige on January 20, 2018, at UFC 220. However, on December 22, 2017, it was reported that Rosa was pulled from the event due to neck injury.
   I had that moment where the doctor said, ‘You should consider hanging it up [due to your neck injury]'. That almost brought tears to my eyes when he said that. There was silence in the room. I stopped and I said, ‘What’s the other option? He didn’t really say, so I told him what the other option is: ‘I’m going to defy all odds and I’m going to beat this. I’m going to work hard and I’m going to do everything I can possibly do to come back.
After hiatus for 30 months due to neck injury, Rosa returned and faced Manny Bermudez on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6. At the weigh-in, Bermudez weighed in at 148 pounds, 2 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit of 146. The bout was held at catchweight. Bermudez was fined 20% of his purse which went to Rosa. He won the fight via a submission in round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Rosa was scheduled to face Bryce Mitchell on May 2, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed and the bout eventually took place on May 9, 2020, at UFC 249. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rosa faced Kevin Aguilar on June 13, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo. He won the fight via split decision.
Rosa faced Darrick Minner on February 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rosa faced Justin Jaynes on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190. He won the fight by split decision.
As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Rosa faced Damon Jackson on October 9, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 194. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rosa, as a replacement for Gabriel Benítez on three days notice, is scheduled to face T.J. Brown on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze. In conjunction with the bout, Rosa signed a new four-fight contract with the UFC. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rosa faced Nathaniel Wood on July 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
On August 10, 2023, it was announced that Rosa was no longer on the UFC roster.

### Post-UFC Career

After leaving the UFC, Rosa had 2 fights in 2023 on the regional scene against Jonathan Gary and Paul Teague winning both by stoppage.
Rosa then faced Josh Harvey for the vacant CES MMA Lightweight title in the main event of CES 77 on May 3, 2024. He would win the fight via first round submission.
Rosa defended the CES MMA Lightweight title against Patrick Benson in the main event of CES 78 on August 3, 2024. Rosa won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.
Rosa had a bare knuckle MMA fight against Peter Barrett on November 15th 2024. On the main card of Gamebred promotions Costa Vs Davis. Rosa won the fight via anaconda choke in the third round.

#### Global Fight League

On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Rosa was signed by Global Fight League.
on January 24th, 2025, it was announced Charles was drafted to the Miami GFL team.

## Personal life

In addition to competing, Rosa works as a chef at an upscale steakhouse. Rosa is engaged and expecting a baby in 2025 with luxury real estate agent Shannon Southcomb. The couple lives in Boca Raton.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Dennis Siver, Yair Rodríguez, and Shane Burgos
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Manny Bermudez
CES MMA
* CES MMA World lightweight Champion (One time)
* One successful title defense

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 27 matches | 19 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 1 |
| By submission | 11 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 7 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 19–8 | Peter Barrett | Submission (anaconda choke) | Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 8 | November 15, 2024 | 3 | 3:21 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | Bare knuckle MMA. |
| Win | 18–8 | Patrick Benson | TKO (punches) | CES MMA 78 | August 2, 2024 | 1 | 4:17 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States | Defended the CES MMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–8 | Josh Harvey | Submission (guillotine choke) | CES MMA 77 | May 3, 2024 | 1 | 2:45 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States | Won the CES MMA Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 16–8 | Paul Teague | TKO (punches) | LeLeo Code MMA: Winter Fightfest Pro | December 16, 2023 | 1 | 1:41 | Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 15–8 | Jonathan Gary | Submission (guillotine choke) | CES MMA 75 | October 20, 2023 | 2 | 0:47 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 14–8 | Nathaniel Wood | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall | July 23, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Loss | 14–7 | T.J. Brown | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze | January 15, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Loss | 14–6 | Damon Jackson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez | October 8, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–5 | Justin Jaynes | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov | June 26, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–5 | Darrick Minner | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis | February 20, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–4 | Kevin Aguilar | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo | June 13, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Loss | 12–4 | Bryce Mitchell | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 249 | May 9, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Manny Bermudez | Submission (armbar) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman | October 18, 2019 | 1 | 2:46 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Catchweight (148 lb) bout; Bermudez missed weight. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Shane Burgos | TKO (punches) | UFC 210 | April 8, 2017 | 3 | 1:59 | Buffalo, New York, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 11–2 | Kyle Bochniak | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz | January 17, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Yair Rodríguez | Decision (split) | UFC 188 | June 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | Sean Soriano | Submission (D'Arce choke) | UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver | January 18, 2015 | 3 | 4:43 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Dennis Siver | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story | October 4, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 9–0 | Jake Constant | Submission (armbar) | CES MMA 25 | August 8, 2014 | 1 | 3:36 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Catchweight (149 lb) bout. |
| Win | 8–0 | Brylan Van Artsdalen | Submission (armbar) | CES MMA 22 | March 14, 2014 | 1 | 3:25 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 7–0 | Keith Richardson | TKO (punches) | Fight Lab 35 | February 8, 2014 | 2 | 2:08 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 6–0 | Ralph Johnson | Submission (anaconda choke) | CES MMA 20 | December 6, 2013 | 1 | 3:03 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Steve McCabe | Submission (Peruvian necktie) | CES MMA: Rise or Fall | October 4, 2013 | 1 | 1:39 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Sylvester Murataj | TKO (punches) | CES MMA: Gold Rush | August 29, 2013 | 1 | 0:46 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Aaron Steadman | Submission (triangle choke) | CFA 11 | May 24, 2013 | 1 | 3:26 | Coral Gables, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jason Jones | TKO (punches) | CFA 9 | January 19, 2013 | 1 | 3:52 | Coral Gables, Florida, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Hauley Tillman | Submission (armbar) | CFA 9 | August 24, 2012 | 1 | 1:56 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Catchweight (158 lb) bout. |