Daniel Rodriguez (fighter)

Last updated
Daniel Rodriguez
Born (1986-12-31) December 31, 1986 (age 36)
Alhambra, California, United States
Other namesD-Rod
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight171 lb (78 kg; 12 st 3 lb)
Division Middleweight
Welterweight (current)
Lightweight
Reach74 in (188 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Fighting out of Alhambra, California, United States
TeamTapouT LA (formerly) [1]
The Yard Muay Thai [1]
BMF Ranch (2019–present) [2] [3]
Syndicate MMA (2021–present) [4]
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Eddie Bravo [5]
Years active2015–present
Professional boxing record
Total2
Wins1
Losses1
By knockout1
Mixed martial arts record
Total21
Wins17
By knockout8
By submission4
By decision5
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision2
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Daniel Rodriguez (born December 31, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional mixed martial artist since 2015, Rodriguez has also competed in Bellator, King of the Cage, and Combate Americas.

Contents

Background

According to Rodriguez, he grew up in Los Angeles in a gang affiliated family, alternating between the hood and jail system while continuously getting into fights in both. [6] Without any sports background, Rodriguez began training boxing and eventually mixed martial arts in his mid-twenties. [6]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Rodriguez compiled a 7–0 amateur record as a Welterweight from late 2013 to 2015. [7] Rodriguez later began his professional career in 2015, competing mainly in Combate Americas, with a one off fight at Bellator 170. Eventually racking up an 8–1 record, [8] he competed on Dana White's Contender Series 22, [9] however he did not earn a UFC contract through his unanimous decision win against Rico Farrington. [10] Afterwards, he won the Smash Global Welterweight Championship, [11] before he was given a UFC contract. [12]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rodriguez made his promotional debut on February 15, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 167 as a late replacement for Ramazan Emeev against Tim Means. [13] Rodriguez won the fight via submission in the second round. [14] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [15]

Rodriguez was expected to face Kevin Holland on May 30, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns .However, On May 26, Holland was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Daniel Rodriguez due to an injury [16] and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Gabriel Green [17] Rodriguez won the fight via unanimous decision. [18]

Rodriguez was expected to face Takashi Sato on August 22, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 15. [19] Despite making the required weight, Sato was not cleared to fight by Nevada State Athletic Commission medical personnel and he was replaced by Dwight Grant whose opponent, Calen Born, was pulled from the same event for undisclosed reason. [20] After being knocked down in the beginning of the fight, Rodriguez knocked Grant down multiple times en route to a first-round knockout win. [21]

Rodriguez was expected to face Bryan Barberena on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183. [22] However, Barberena underwent an emergency laparotomy a week before the event, resulting in the fight being cancelled. [23]

Rodriguez instead faced Nicolas Dalby, replacing Orion Cosce, on November 21, 2020 at UFC 255. [24] He lost the close fight via unanimous decision. [25] 9 out of 20 media outlets scored the fight for Rodriguez. [26]

Rodriguez faced Mike Perry on April 10, 2021 at UFC on ABC 2. [27] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [28]

Rodriguez was scheduled to face Abubakar Nurmagomedov on July 17, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 26. [29] However, Nurmagomedov was forced to withdraw from the event, citing injury. [30] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Preston Parsons. [31] Rodriguez won the fight via technical knockout in round one. [32]

Rodriguez faced Kevin Lee on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze. [33] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [34]

Rodriguez was scheduled to face Kevin Holland on September 10, 2022, at UFC 279 in a 180-pound catchweight bout. [35] However, the day of the weigh-ins, Khamzat Chimaev missed weight for his welterweight main event bout with Nate Diaz by seven-and-a-half pounds. As a result, the UFC was forced to change the card around. Rodriguez instead faced Li Jingliang, who was originally scheduled to face Tony Ferguson in the co-main event in a welterweight bout. Rodriguez's bout with Jingliang remained at a 180-pound catchweight. [36] He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision. [37] 21 out of 23 media scores gave it to Jingliang. [38]

Rodriguez was scheduled to face Neil Magny on October 15, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 212. [39] However, Rodriguez withdrew from the bout due to elbow infection. [40] The bout was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 214 on November 5. [41] He lost the fight via D'Arce choke submission in the third round. [42]

Rodriguez was scheduled to face Gunnar Nelson on March 18, 2023, at UFC 286. [43] However, Rodriguez withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Bryan Barberena. [44]

Rodriguez faced Ian Garry on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4. [45] He lost the bout via technical knockout in the first round. [46]

Rodriguez was scheduled to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on September 16, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 227. [47] However, Rodriguez was pulled from the bout by USADA after testing positive for the banned substance ostarine. [48] He was given a 6-month suspension and will be eligible to fight again on January 28, 2024. [49]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
21 matches17 wins4 losses
By knockout81
By submission41
By decision52
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss17–4 Ian Machado Garry TKO (head kick and punches) UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida May 13, 202312:57 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Loss17–3 Neil Magny Submission (D'Arce choke) UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos November 5, 202233:32 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win17–2 Li Jingliang Decision (split) UFC 279 September 10, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesCatchweight (180 lb) bout.
Win16–2 Kevin Lee Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze August 28, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win15–2Preston ParsonsTKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés July 17, 202113:47 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win14–2 Mike Perry Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland April 10, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss13–2 Nicolas Dalby Decision (unanimous) UFC 255 November 21, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win13–1 Dwight Grant KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar August 22, 202012:24 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win12–1 Gabriel Green Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns May 30, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–1 Tim Means Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 February 15, 202023:37 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win10–1Quinton McCottrellTKO (punches)SMASH Global 9: Black Tie Fight NightDecember 19, 201921:48 Hollywood, California, United StatesWon the SG Welterweight Championship.
Win9–1Rico FarringtonDecision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 22 July 30, 201935:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesReturn to Welterweight.
Win8–1Ivan CastilloKO (knee)Combate 31: México vs. USAFebruary 22, 201922:31 Fresno, California, United StatesCatchweight (165 lb) bout.
Win7–1Ozzie AlvarezTKO (punches)Combate 25: Camino a Copa CombateSeptember 28, 201832:41 Long Beach, California, United StatesCatchweight (165 lb) bout.
Win6–1Alex VelascoSubmission (rear-naked choke)Combate 23: México vs. El MundoMay 18, 201832:41 Tijuana, MexicoLightweight debut.
Win5–1 Justin Baesman TKO (punches)CXF 11: Alpha DogFebruary 17, 201821:17 Studio City, California, United States
Loss4–1Victor ReynaDecision (split)Combate 19: Queen WarriorsDecember 1, 201735:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win4–0Joel ChampionTKO (punches)Combate 13April 20, 201711:55 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win3–0Christian GonzalezTKO (punches) Bellator 170 January 21, 201723:55 Inglewood, California, United StatesCatchweight (182 lb) bout.
Win2–0Hector SaldañaSubmission (arm-triangle choke)Combate 8August 11, 201613:45 Los Angeles, California, United StatesWelterweight debut.
Win1–0Christopher GatesSubmission (armbar)KOTC: SanctionedJune 14, 201514:54 San Jacinto, California, United StatesMiddleweight debut.

[50]

Professional boxing record

2 fights1 win1 loss
By knockout01
By decision10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
2Loss1–1 Flag of the United States.svg Lucius JohnsonKO1 (4), 2:5019 Sep 2015 Flag of the United States.svg Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, US
1Win1–0 Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan ScogginsUD48 Aug 2015 Flag of the United States.svg Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, US

See also

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