Daniel Rodriguez has revealed he spent eight months in a Mexican prison after being caught crossing the border with marijuana following his fight against Kevin Holland. Despite training three times a day behind bars, the lack of protein in the prison diet caused him to lose 20 pounds of muscle mass, leaving him unable to run a mile or hold his own against his wrestler son upon release. Rodriguez said it took nearly three months to feel normal again, and he is now scheduled to fight Uros Medic in the main event of UFC Serbia on August 1.
Daniel Rodriguez has opened up about an eight-month prison stay in Mexico that derailed his fighting career, revealing the full physical toll of his incarceration and outlining his path back to competition.
Rodriguez, known as "D-Rod," was arrested crossing the border with marijuana following his bout against Kevin Holland. He spent eight months behind bars, training three times a day to stay sharp, but the prison diet — severely lacking in protein — caused him to shed 20 pounds of muscle mass. Upon release, he was unable to run a mile or hold his own in sparring against his own son, who wrestles. It took close to three months before he felt like himself again.
The 39-year-old welterweight carries a 20-5 record and holds the 14th ranking in his division. Standing six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw out of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is one of the more active strikers in the weight class, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy.
The fighter Rodriguez met before his arrest, Kevin Holland, is a 6-foot-3 orthodox striker with an 81-inch reach and a 29-15 record. Holland lands 4.26 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and trains out of Phalanx MMA Academy.
Rodriguez is now scheduled to headline UFC Serbia on August 1 against Uros Medic. The 33-year-old Medic, nicknamed "The Doctor," trains at Kings MMA and carries a 13-3 record. The southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 71-inch reach and posts an impressive 5.59 significant strikes landed per minute at 60 percent accuracy, making him one of the sharper volume strikers Rodriguez will have faced.
Why it matters
- Rodriguez returns to the main event after an extended absence caused by imprisonment, not injury or competition
- Both fighters are southpaw strikers, setting up a technically demanding style matchup
- At 49 percent accuracy for Rodriguez versus 60 percent for Medic, the precision gap could prove significant
- A win would strengthen Rodriguez's case for a return to the top ten at welterweight
