Daniel Rodriguez confirmed in an interview with TMZ Sports that he accepted a fight against Leon Edwards at UFC 329 in Las Vegas during International Fight Week. He received the offer just today and made his decision immediately. Rodriguez called it an amazing opportunity and accepted the offer right away. The matchup pairs Rodriguez, a welterweight contender, against Edwards, a former UFC champion. No other details about the bout were disclosed in the announcement.
Daniel Rodriguez has accepted a welterweight bout against former UFC champion Leon Edwards at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, with the fight set to take place during International Fight Week. Rodriguez confirmed the matchup in an interview with TMZ Sports, revealing he received the offer the same day and agreed immediately, describing it as an amazing opportunity.
Rodriguez, known as "D-Rod," enters the fight carrying a 20-5 record and is currently ranked 14th in the welterweight division. The 39-year-old American, who trains out of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing an impressive 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw has built his reputation primarily on the feet, with minimal reliance on the grappling game.
Edwards, nicknamed "Rocky," brings a 22-6 record into the contest and is ranked ninth in the welterweight division. The 34-year-old Englishman and Team Renegade product is a former UFC welterweight champion who operates out of a southpaw stance, standing six-foot-two with a 74-inch reach. Edwards lands 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with 1.18 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat across all phases.
Why it matters
- Edwards, a former champion ranked ninth, represents a significant step up for Rodriguez, who sits at 14th in the division
- A win for Rodriguez would vault him into serious title contention conversation; Edwards needs a strong performance to climb back toward the belt
- Both fighters share identical reach and the same southpaw stance, setting up a mirror-image striking battle
- The International Fight Week slot gives the matchup major visibility on one of the UFC calendar's biggest stages
