# Marina Rodriguez

Marina Alcalde Rodriguez (born April 29, 1987) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of October 8, 2024, she is #9 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

## Background

Rodriguez was born in Bagé, Brazil. She has two brothers, Gabriel and Roberto, of whom the latter is a two-time Parapan American Games gold medalist in swimming. In her youth, Rodriguez played football, volley, basketball, and handball. Growing tired of the lack of physical exercise in her job as a graphic designer, she started looking for a way to lose some gained weight. Then, she found her now coach, Marcio Malko. Eventually, she joined a muay Thai class in 2013 and soon thereafter started taking amateur bouts.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Rodriguez started her professional MMA career in 2015 and fought primarily in Brazil and amassed a record of 9–0 before competing in Dana White's Contender Series Brazil.

### Dana White's Contender Series

Rodriguez appeared in Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 web-series program on August 11, 2018, facing Maria de Oliveira Neta. She won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rodriguez made her UFC debut on September 22, 2018, against Randa Markos at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders. The back and forth contest was ultimately ruled a majority draw.
Rodriguez next faced Jessica Aguilar on March 30, 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje against. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Rodriguez faced Tecia Torres on August 10, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 156. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Rodriguez faced Cynthia Calvillo, replacing an injured Cláudia Gadelha, on December 7, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 7. At the weigh-ins, Calvillo weighed in at 120.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight limit. The bout was held at a catchweight and Calvillo was fined 30% her purse, which went to Rodriguez. After three rounds of fighting, the bout ended with a majority draw.
Rodriguez was expected to face former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza on July 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 172. However the bout was cancelled after one of Rodriguez's cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. The pair eventually fought at UFC on ESPN 14 on July 26, 2020. Rodriguez lost the fight via split decision. 9 out of 18 media outlets scored the bout for both Rodriguez and Esparza.
Rodriguez faced Amanda Ribas, replacing Michelle Waterson, on January 24, 2021, at UFC 257. Rodriguez won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.
As the first fight of her new, multi-fight contract, Rodriguez faced Michelle Waterson in a flyweight bout on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Rodriguez faced Mackenzie Dern on October 9, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 194. She won the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned her the Fight of the Night award.
Rodriguez faced Yan Xiaonan on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272. She won the fight via split decision.
Rodriguez was expected to face Amanda Lemos at UFC 280, but the bout was postponed to UFC Fight Night 214 for unknown reasons. She lost the fight via technical knockout in the third round.
Rodriguez was scheduled to face Virna Jandiroba on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Rodriguez faced Michelle Waterson-Gomez in a rematch on September 23, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 228. She won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.
Rodriguez faced former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. She lost the bout by split decision.
Rodriguez faced Iasmin Lucindo on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. She lost the fight by split decision. 8 out of 13 media outlets scored the bout for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is scheduled to face Gillian Robertson on May 3, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256.

## Championships and awards
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Amanda Ribas and Michelle Waterson-Gomez
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Mackenzie Dern
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2021: Ranked #9 Fighter of the Year

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 24 matches | 17 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 1 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 4 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 17–5–2 | Iasmin Lucindo | Decision (split) | UFC 307 | October 5, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 17–4–2 | Jéssica Andrade | Decision (split) | UFC 300 | April 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–3–2 | Michelle Waterson-Gomez | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot | September 23, 2023 | 2 | 2:42 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 16–3–2 | Virna Jandiroba | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 288 | May 6, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 16–2–2 | Amanda Lemos | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos | November 5, 2022 | 3 | 0:54 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–1–2 | Yan Xiaonan | Decision (split) | UFC 272 | March 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–1–2 | Mackenzie Dern | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez | October 9, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Strawweight. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–1–2 | Michelle Waterson-Gomez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson | May 8, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 13–1–2 | Amanda Ribas | TKO (elbow and punches) | UFC 257 | January 24, 2021 | 2 | 0:54 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 12–1–2 | Carla Esparza | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | July 26, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Draw | 12–0–2 | Cynthia Calvillo | Draw (majority) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Rozenstruik | December 7, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Washington, D.C., United States | Catchweight (120.5 lb) bout; Calvillo missed weight. |
| Win | 12–0–1 | Tecia Torres | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 | August 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Win | 11–0–1 | Jessica Aguilar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje | March 30, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Rodriguez was deducted one point in round 1 due to repeated eye pokes. |
| Draw | 10–0–1 | Randa Markos | Draw (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders | September 22, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–0 | Maria de Oliveira Neta | TKO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 | August 11, 2018 | 1 | 3:03 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Natália Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Thunder Fight 14 | December 16, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Amanda Torres Sardinha | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 79 | December 10, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Samara Santos Cunha | Decision (unanimous) | Fight 2 Night 2 | April 28, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Paula Vieira da Silva | TKO (punches) | Curitiba Top Fight 10 | February 24, 2017 | 1 | 4:50 | Curitiba, Brazil | Catchweight (121 lb) bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Vanessa Guimaraes | Submission (triangle choke) | Aspera FC 41 | July 9, 2016 | 2 | 1:47 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Márcia Oliveira | TKO (punches) | Floripa Fight Championship: The Big Challenge | June 4, 2016 | 1 | 1:42 | Florianópolis, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Caroline Silva | TKO (knee and punches) | Aspera FC 33 | March 19, 2016 | 2 | 0:47 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Caroline Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Aspera FC 24 | September 12, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Silvania Monteiro | TKO (retirement) | São José Super Fight 6 | March 28, 2015 | 1 | 5:00 | São José, Brazil | Strawweight debut. |