Daniel Rodriguez (fighter)
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. Without any sports background, Rodriguez began training boxing and eventually mixed martial arts in his mid-twenties. Mixed martial arts career. Early career. Rodriguez compiled  a 7–0 amateur record as a Welterweight from late 2013 to 2015. Rodriguez later began his professional career in 2015, competing mainly in Combate Americas, with a one off fight at Bellator 170. Eventually racking up a 8–1 record, he competed on Dana White's Contender Series 22, however he did not earn a UFC contract through his unanimous decision win against Rico Farrington. Afterwards, he won the Smash Global Welterweight Championship, before he was given a UFC contract. 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. Rodriguez won the fight via submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. Rodriguez was expected to face Kevin Holland on May 30, 2020 at .However, On May 26, Holland was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Daniel Rodriguez due to an injury and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Gabriel Green Rodriguez won the fight via unanimous decision. Rodriguez was expected to face Takashi Sato on August 22, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 15. 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. After being knocked down in the beginning of the fight, Rodriguez knocked Grant down multiple times enroute to a first-round knockout win. Rodriguez was expected to face Bryan Barberena on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183. However, Barberena underwent an emergency laparotomy a week before the event, resulting in the fight being cancelled. Rodriguez instead faced Nicolas Dalby, replacing Orion Cosce, on November 21, 2020 at UFC 255. He  lost the close fight via unanimous decision. 9 out of 20 media outlets scored the fight for Rodriguez. Rodriguez faced Mike Perry on April 10, 2021 at UFC on ABC 2. He won the bout via unanimous decision. Rodriguez was scheduled to face Abubakar Nurmagomedov on July 17, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 26. However, Nurmagomedov was forced to withdraw from the event, citing injury. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Preston Parsons. Rodriguez won the fight via technical knockout in round one. Rodriguez faced Kevin Lee on August 28, 2021, at . He won the fight via unanimous decision. Daniel