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“I couldn’t get up, no kicks, no nothing,” he said. “It was just my jiu-jitsu that I had to rely on. And after I felt that knockout taste, I was like, yeah, I can do this. I really believed in myself, I pushed every fight and I knew I wasn’t going to climax immediately. So I had to take it step by step. The way you build a house is brick by brick, and each struggle brings me closer.
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Nine amateur fights earned him a professional debut in 2020, and after four victories on the regional scene, he was called up to the big show. Rodriguez lost his UFC debut to Jack Della Maddalena in January 2022, but after getting back on track against Jackson, he has the opportunity to earn his second victory inside the Octagon against Gorimbo. His two years in the UFC may not have gone the way he wanted, but he feels like the new year has given him a fresh start that he plans to take advantage of.
“It’s nice to be here, but I’m not happy in my skin,” Rodriguez said. “I know I can surpass myself and I know my time will come. Sacrifices pay off and God has given me all the tools, but he won’t do it for me. I’m the one who’s supposed to use these tools, and if I don’t, nothing will happen. So as long as I put my tools to good use, I know that everything will work out and that this fight will boost me. I see this as an opportunity to get back there.
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