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. He also competes in CES MMA where he is the current Lightweight Champion.

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. Rosa would train for 1 year before taking his first fight. During the early parts of his career Rosa continued to work as a chef. He Later stated

“My first fight I was so scared because you never ask the chef for a Saturday night off,” “He sometimes freaked out when people asked for a weekend night off, but I knew he was a martial artist himself because he said he did Aikido. I asked if I could leave work at 7pm to fight and that I should be back by 10:30pm.”

Rosa Boss respected what Rosa was doing and let him take the night off. This led to a trend for Rosa on fight nights where Rosa would fight on a Saturday and either come back the same night or the next day, depending on how taxing the bout was.

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 a d’race choke submission in the third round.

Rosa then faced Yair Rodríguez on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. He lost the back and forth 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.

After hiatus for 30 months due to neck injury, Rosa made a miraculous return 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 an arm bar 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. 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. Rosa would later state during a 2024 interview that he still had 2 fights left on his contract when he was removed. But decided to ask for his release due to the UFC only being able to offer him one fight a year and with Rosa getting older he didn’t want to sit around and waste the rest his career.

Post-UFC Career

CES After leaving the UFC, Rosa returned to the regional promotion where he fought a majority of his early career that being CES. He faced Jonathan Gary on October 20th 2023 in the main event of CES 75. Rosa would win the fight via guillotine in the second round. He then made his commentary debut at CES 76.

Rosa then had a fight in the Florida based promotion LeLeo Code MMA on December 16th 2023. He faced Paul Teague in the main event winning via first round TKO.

Rosa then faced Josh Harvey for the vacant CES MMA Lightweight title in the main event of CES 77 on May 3, 2024. He won the fight via first round guillotine 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.

Gamebred FC Rosa had his first 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.

Rosa faced Jhonasky Sojo on April 10, 2026 in the Gamebred promotions event in the Dominican Republic. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

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.

Rosa was scheduled to face Khumoyun Tukhtamuradov in the inaugural Global Fight League event on May 24, 2025 at GFL 1. However, all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.

BKFC

BKFC Ice Wars On June 3rd 2025 Rosa announced that he had signed with the BKFCs new promotion called BKFC ice wars where fighters will have sanctioned “hockey fights” on ice.

Rosa fought Reid Krasowski on October 10, 2025 in the co main-event of BKFC ice wars 3 and won with a second round TKO.

Bare-knuckle fighting Rosa made his BKFC debut at BKFC 92 on August 29, 2026 against Charon Spain. He lost the fight by split decision.

Grappling Career Rosa faced Julio Cesar Chaves on JUNE 3, 2022 in a grappling match on Titan Fighting Championship 77. The bout would end in a draw after 2 rounds and a 10 minute overtime.

Personal life In addition to competing, Rosa works as a chef at an upscale steakhouse. During his time in the UFC Rosa’s skills became well known among other fighters, this resulted in Rosa making food for nearly a dozen people at the home of UFC veteran Stephen Thompson in South Carolina. He is a fan of the Boston Bruins.

Rosa’s family runs a non profit charity that helps stop substance abuse. Rosa himself is involved in other charitable events and visits sick children at hospitals.

Rosa also helps train his younger brother Lucas who is also a pro MMA fighter. The two would even fight on the same card at CES 78. Rosa currently serves a mentor and training partner with UFC fighter Daniel Marcos with the two being roommates together for a period of time.

Rosa currently participates in armed forces entertainment tours, in which he travels to military bases around the world to train United States service members in mixed martial arts.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Three times) UFC.com Awards 2015: Ranked #7 Fight of the Year

CES MMA

CES MMA World lightweight Champion (current)

Amateur

Rise of the Warrior Featherweight Champion (one time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jhonasky Sojo Decision (unanimous) Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 9

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Win

Peter Barrett Submission (anaconda choke) Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 8

Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Win

Patrick Benson TKO (punches) CES MMA 78

Ledyard, Connecticut, United States Win

Josh Harvey Submission (guillotine choke) CES MMA 77

Ledyard, Connecticut, United States Win

Paul Teague TKO (punches) LeLeo Code MMA: Winter Fightfest Pro

Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States Win

Jonathan Gary Submission (guillotine choke) CES MMA 75

Ledyard, Connecticut, United States Loss

Nathaniel Wood Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall

London, England Loss

T.J. Brown Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Damon Jackson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Justin Jaynes Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Darrick Minner Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kevin Aguilar Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Bryce Mitchell Decision (unanimous) UFC 249

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Win

Manny Bermudez Submission (armbar) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Shane Burgos TKO (punches) UFC 210

Buffalo, New York, United States Win

Kyle Bochniak Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Yair Rodríguez Decision (split) UFC 188

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Sean Soriano Submission (D'Arce choke) UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Dennis Siver Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Jake Constant Submission (armbar) CES MMA 25

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Brylan Van Artsdalen Submission (armbar) CES MMA 22

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Keith Richardson TKO (punches) Fight Lab 35

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Ralph Johnson Submission (anaconda choke) CES MMA 20

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Steve McCabe Submission (Peruvian necktie) CES MMA: Rise or Fall

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Sylvester Murataj TKO (punches) CES MMA: Gold Rush

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Aaron Steadman Submission (triangle choke) CFA 11

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Win

Jason Jones TKO (punches) CFA 9

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Win

Hauley Tillman Submission (armbar) CFA 9

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Bare-knuckle boxing record Loss

Charon Spain Decision (split) BKFC 92

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Filmography