Daniel Rodriguez is ready to carry the momentum from an impactful 2021 into 2022, especially now that he’s now officially a top 15 fighter in the UFC. look
Rodriguez made the jump into the promotion’s official welterweight rankings following a hard fought unanimous decision win over former interim title challenger Kevin Lee at UFC Vegas 35. “D-Rod” is now 6-1 since signing with the UFC in February 2020 with the lone loss coming via a controversial decision to Nicolas Dalby at UFC 255 last November.
Although Rodriguez picked up the biggest win of his career against Lee, it came at a price as he suffered a left hand injury that required surgery. The 34-year-old plans to return in the first quarter of next year and is declaring “open season” on the top 10 of the UFC’s welterweight division.
In an exclusive interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Rodriguez recaps the win over Lee and if he is feeling the momentum of it, discussed the hand injury and what it entailed, seeing his name in the rankings, being offered a December fight with Neil Magny and what that meant to him, hoping to get a fight with Magny, Belal Muhammad, or anyone that can get him closer to title contention, being an inspiration since signing with the UFC, and more.
