Daniel Rodriguez is set to headline a UFC Fight Night card in Belgrade on Saturday against Uros Medic in what marks his first main event appearance. The 39-year-old welterweight (20-5) will face the home-country fighter in a matchup between two competitors carrying three-fight win streaks, with title contention implications for the winner at 170 pounds.
Rodriguez’s path to this opportunity has been unconventional. He spent much of the previous year incarcerated in a Mexican prison after being charged with drug smuggling in connection with cannabis found in his possession while visiting Tijuana. Despite marijuana being legal in California, where the Alhambra native resides, and decriminalized in Mexico, authorities treated the infraction as a felony. Rodriguez stated he had been unaware of the substance in his backpack. He has since been released and spent recent months returning to competitive training condition.
The fighter attributed his renewed focus and hunger to his incarceration experience. Rodriguez did not begin his MMA career until age 25 and joined the UFC in 2020. After initial success with a 7-1 record in his first two years, he encountered a three-fight losing streak against elite-level competition before rebounding with consecutive victories. At 39 years old, Rodriguez views the main event opportunity as timely for his career trajectory.
Regarding the upcoming contest, Rodriguez characterized Medic as a dangerous striker, particularly in early exchanges. He noted that Medic has never gone the distance in 16 professional fights, suggesting an expectation of an explosive encounter. Rodriguez highlighted his technical striking abilities and claimed the highest average of significant strikes landed per minute in UFC history as distinguishing factors in his skillset, though he believes these attributes are sometimes underappreciated within the sport.
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