Charles “Boston Strong” Rosa is an experienced mixed martial artist, BJJblack belt, and bare-knuckle fighter from Peabody, Massachusetts, who now fights out of South Florida. Rosa built his reputation as a submission-minded fighter, with 11 of his 19 professional MMA victories coming by submission, alongside five knockout or TKO wins. His style blends active grappling, durable pressure, and a willingness to fight through difficult positions—traits that were on display throughout a 13-fight UFC run.

Following his UFC tenure, Rosa returned to CES MMA and captured the promotion’s lightweight championship in 2024. He submitted Josh Harvey to win the title, then defended it with a first-round TKO over Patrick Benson. Rosa also has bare-knuckle MMA experience where he holds a win over the notable Peter Barrett (2-0 in BKFC.) Rosa’s first BKFC-related outing came in the Ice Wars format, where he stopped former hockey enforcer Reid Krasowski in the second round at BKFC Ice Wars 3. His move into the discipline brought together two longtime passions—fighting and hockey.

Outside the cage, Rosa is a trained chef and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University’s culinary program. He has spoken publicly about balancing his early MMA career with restaurant work, including working at an upscale steakhouse in Delray Beach, Florida. His culinary background remains a significant part of his identity; Rosa has described food, hockey, and fighting as his three biggest passions.

The “Boston Strong” nickname is closely connected to Rosa’s Massachusetts roots and his resilience. He has also spoken openly about personal loss within his family and is associated with charitable efforts focused on substance-abuse awareness through Chucky’s Fight Foundation. On social media and in interviews, Rosa consistently frames his career around family, perseverance, Boston sports culture, cooking, and the pursuit of a new chapter in bare-knuckle competition.