Daniel Rodriguez (fighter)

Daniel Rodriguez
Born (1986-12-31) December 31, 1986 (age 37)
Alhambra, California, U.S.
Other namesD-Rod
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionMiddleweight
Welterweight (current)
Lightweight
Reach74 in (188 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofAlhambra, California, U.S.
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
Total23
Wins18
By knockout8
By submission4
By decision6
Losses5
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision3
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.

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]

Rodriguez faced Kelvin Gastelum on June 22, 2024, at UFC on ABC 6.[50] The bout was changed to a middleweight bout due to Gastelum having issues cutting weight.[51] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[52]

Rodriguez faced Alex Morono on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244.[53] He won the fight by split decision.[54]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches 18 wins 5 losses
By knockout 8 1
By submission 4 1
By decision 6 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 18–5 Alex Morono Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira October 12, 2024 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 17–5 Kelvin Gastelum Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov June 22, 2024 3 5:00 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Middleweight bout.
Loss 17–4 Ian Machado Garry TKO (head kick and punches) UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida May 13, 2023 1 2:57 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Loss 17–3 Neil Magny Submission (D'Arce choke) UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos November 5, 2022 3 3:32 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–2 Li Jingliang Decision (split) UFC 279 September 10, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (180 lb) bout.
Win 16–2 Kevin Lee Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze August 28, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 15–2 Preston Parsons TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés July 17, 2021 1 3:47 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 14–2 Mike Perry Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland April 10, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 13–2 Nicolas Dalby Decision (unanimous) UFC 255 November 21, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13–1 Dwight Grant KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar August 22, 2020 1 2:24 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 12–1 Gabriel Green Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns May 30, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–1 Tim Means Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 February 15, 2020 2 3:37 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 10–1 Quinton McCottrell TKO (punches) SMASH Global 9 December 19, 2019 2 1:48 Hollywood, California, United States Won the SG Welterweight Championship.
Win 9–1 Rico Farrington Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 22 July 30, 2019 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Return to Welterweight.
Win 8–1 Ivan Castillo KO (knee) Combate 31 February 22, 2019 2 2:31 Fresno, California, United States Catchweight (165 lb) bout.
Win 7–1 Ozzie Alvarez TKO (punches) Combate 25 September 28, 2018 3 2:41 Long Beach, California, United States Catchweight (165 lb) bout.
Win 6–1 Alex Velasco Submission (rear-naked choke) Combate 23 May 18, 2018 3 2:41 Tijuana, Mexico Lightweight debut.
Win 5–1 Justin Baesman TKO (punches) CXF 11: Alpha Dog February 17, 2018 2 1:17 Studio City, California, United States
Loss 4–1 Victor Reyna Decision (split) Combate 19 December 1, 2017 3 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 4–0 Joel Champion TKO (punches) Combate 13 April 20, 2017 1 1:55 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win 3–0 Christian Gonzalez TKO (punches) Bellator 170 January 21, 2017 2 3:55 Inglewood, California, United States Catchweight (182 lb) bout.
Win 2–0 Hector Saldaña Submission (arm-triangle choke) Combate 8 August 11, 2016 1 3:45 Los Angeles, California, United States Welterweight debut.
Win 1–0 Christopher Gates Submission (armbar) KOTC: Sanctioned June 14, 2015 1 4:54 San Jacinto, California, United States Middleweight debut.

[55]

Professional boxing record

2 fights 1 win 1 loss
By knockout 0 1
By decision 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Loss 1–1 United States Lucius Johnson KO 1 (4), 2:50 19 Sep 2015 United States Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, US
1 Win 1–0 United States Jonathan Scoggins UD 4 8 Aug 2015 United States Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, US

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas Gerbasi (April 7, 2021). "Daniel Rodriguez Believes It's His Turn". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  2. ^ Shakiel Mahjouri (July 28, 2020). "Paintball, buggies and bars - Daniel Rodriguez felt like 'kid in a toy store' at BMF Ranch". bloodyelbow.com.
  3. ^ The Schmo (July 28, 2021). Daniel Rodriguez Unconventional Way to UFC – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Connor Northrup (2 July 2021). "Daniel Rodriguez calls Abubakar Nurmagomedov "Not so great cousin" of Khabib Nurmagomedov". mymmanews.com.
  5. ^ "Daniel Rodriguez | UFC". UFC.com. 28 January 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Mike Heck (August 28, 2021). Daniel Rodriguez: MMA Helped Channel 'Aggression, Anger' After Tough Times - MMA Fighting – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Daniel Rodriguez ("D-Rod")". tapology.com. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Sherdog.com. "Daniel". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  9. ^ Bitter, Shawn (2019-06-03). "EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Rodriguez vs. Rico Farrington Set for Contender Series on July 30". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  10. ^ Martin, Damon (2019-07-30). "Dana White's Contender Series results season 3, week 6: Flying knee KOs highlight latest episode". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  11. ^ a b "SMASH Global IX Recap And Results | | FightBook MMA - Your Source For All Combat Sports News". 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  12. ^ Bitter, Shawn (2020-02-12). "Welcome to the UFC: Daniel Rodriguez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  13. ^ Danny Segura (2020-01-27). "Daniel Rodriguez replaces Ramazan Emeev, fights Tim Means at UFC on ESPN+ 25". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  14. ^ Anderson, Jay (2020-02-15). "UFC Rio Rancho Results: Daniel Rodriguez Proves Pundits Wrong, Submits Tim Means". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  15. ^ a b Jose Youngs (2020-02-15). "UFC Rio Rancho bonuses: Jim Miller earns seventh Fight of the Night for war against Scott Holtzman". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  16. ^ Nolan King (2020-05-26). "Kevin Holland injured, out of UFC on ESPN 9 bout vs. Daniel Rodriguez". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  17. ^ "Gabriel Green expected to replace Kevin Holland at UFC on ESPN 9, meet Daniel Rodriguez". MMA Junkie. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  18. ^ Stocker, Adam (2020-06-30). "UFC Vegas: Daniel Rodriguez out strikes Gabriel Green to earn decision". Fansided. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  19. ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2020-07-22). "Daniel Rodriguez vs. Takashi Sato joins UFC's Aug. 22 lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  20. ^ Staff (2020-08-21). "With opponents out, Dwight Grant and Daniel Rodriguez now open UFC on ESPN 15 main card". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  21. ^ Vreeland, Daniel (2020-08-22). "UFC Vegas 7: Daniel Rodriguez Survives Scare, Finishes Dwight Grant". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  22. ^ Staff (2020-10-28). "Bryan Barberena meets Daniel Rodriguez on November 14 in Las Vegas". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-10-28. (in Dutch)
  23. ^ Staff (2020-11-07). "Bryan Barberena undergoes emergency surgery, out of Nov. 14 UFC Fight Night bout". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  24. ^ Staff (2020-11-12). "With Orion Cosce out, Daniel Rodriguez steps in to face Nicolas Dalby at UFC 255". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  25. ^ Evanoff, Josh (2020-11-21). "UFC 255 Results: Nicolas Dalby Outpoints Daniel Rodriguez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  26. ^ "Nicolas Dalby def. Daniel Rodriguez :: UFC 255 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  27. ^ Kini, Abhinav (2021-02-16). "Report: Mike Perry vs. Daniel Rodriguez Slated For UFC's April 10 Event". LowKickMMA.com. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  28. ^ Doherty, Dan (2021-04-10). "UFC Vegas 23 Results: Daniel Rodriguez Batters Mike Perry". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  29. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-05-21). "Daniel Rodriguez vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 17 juli". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  30. ^ "Abubakar Nurmagomedov injured; Daniel Rodriguez needs new UFC on ESPN 26 opponent". MMA Junkie. 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  31. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-07-09). "Daniel Rodriguez heeft een nieuwe tegenstander voor gevecht op 17 juli". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  32. ^ Bitter, Shawn (2021-07-17). "UFC Vegas 31 Results: Daniel Rodriguez Stops Newcomer Preston Parsons". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  33. ^ Behunin, Alex (11 August 2021). "Kevin Lee Gets New Opponent For August 28, Daniel Rodriguez". Cageside Press. cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  34. ^ Doherty, Dan (2021-08-28). "UFC Vegas 35 Results: Daniel Rodriguez Strikes Way to Decision Over Kevin Lee". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  35. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-08-24). "Kevin Holland Draws Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 279". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  36. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2022-09-09). "Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson to now headline UFC 279, Khamzat Chimaev fights Kevin Holland in co-main event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  37. ^ Dewar, Val (2022-09-10). "UFC 279: Daniel Rodriguez Wins Razor Thin Split Decision Over Li Jingliang". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  38. ^ "Daniel Rodriguez def. Li Jingliang :: UFC 279 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  39. ^ Frank Bonada (2022-09-22). "Daniel Rodriguez set for short notice turnaround fight against Neil Magny on Oct. 15". lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  40. ^ "Daniel Rodriguez injured, out of UFC Fight Night 212 matchup vs. Neil Magny". MMA Junkie. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  41. ^ Mike Bohn (2022-10-07). "After Daniel Rodriguez's injury withdrawal, bout with Neil Magny rescheduled for UFC's Nov. 5 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  42. ^ Mike Bohn (2022-11-05). "UFC Fight Night 214 video: Neil Magny submits Daniel Rodriguez, sets welterweight wins record". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  43. ^ ATSteveDuncan (2023-01-11). "Daniel Rodriguez vs. Gunnar Nelson agregado a UFC 286". MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  44. ^ Tkaczuk, Michał (2023-02-22). "Bryan Barberena wchodzi na zastępstwo, aby zawalczyć z Gunnarem Nelsonem na UFC 286 | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  45. ^ Jay Pettry (2023-03-23). "Daniel Rodriguez, Ian Garry collide at UFC Fight Night event on May 13". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  46. ^ Martin, Damon (2023-05-13). "UFC Charlotte video: Ian Garry unloads huge head kick leading to first-round knockout over Daniel Rodriguez". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  47. ^ Curtis Calhoun (2023-07-27). "Daniel Rodriguez vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio Added To UFC's Mexican Independence Day Card". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  48. ^ Staff (2023-08-17). "Daniel Rodriguez announces positive drug test, out of Noche UFC fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  49. ^ Raimondi, Marc (2023-10-17). "UFC women's bantamweight contender Mayra Bueno Silva suspended". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  50. ^ Martin, Damon (2024-03-28). "Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker set as UFC Saudi Arabia main event, 4 more fights announced". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  51. ^ "Daniel Rodriguez agrees to 185 pounds after Kelvin Gastelum admits struggle to make 170 for UFC Saudi Arabia". MMA Junkie. 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  52. ^ Hester, Bryson (2024-06-22). "UFC Saudi Arabia: Overweight Kelvin Gastelum Too Much for Daniel Rodriguez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  53. ^ MMA Junkie Staff (2024-09-21). "Are there UFC fights tonight? Here's the promotion's upcoming schedule after UFC 306 at Sphere". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  54. ^ Brett Cagle (2024-10-12). "UFC Vegas 98: Daniel Rodriguez Captures Split Decision Against Alex Morono". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  55. ^ Sherdog.com. "Daniel Rodriguez". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-12.