Ranked UFC welterweight Daniel Rodriguez has revealed he spent the past eight months incarcerated in a prison in Tijuana, Mexico.
Rodriguez, currently No. 14 at 170 pounds, had effectively vanished from public view during that stretch, with no fights, interviews, or social media activity. He has now disclosed that absence was due to being jailed in Tijuana, while also sharing footage of himself training behind bars.
“8 months in a cage in Tijuana, Mexico, never killed my spirit, I did everything possible to stay on point and ready for my return to the UFC octagon, expect a hungrier, more focused version of myself,” Rodriguez said.
“They tried to take it all away, now it’s time for me to come back and show you all the monster prison created. Thank you to the legal and management team, family, and real friends for helping me be a free man today.”
Details surrounding Rodriguez’s arrest have not been disclosed.
The 39-year-old last competed at UFC 318 in what was described as an all-action war against Kevin Holland, a bout that drew “Fight of the Night” praise. Rodriguez is currently riding a three-fight win streak, with additional victories over Santiago Ponzinibbio and Alex Morono.
