Daniel Rodriguez meant to rejoice his newest UFC win underneath significantly better circumstances than he did. Instead, a brief weekend journey was a protracted, nightmarish eight months.
After enduring a three-fight skid from 2022-24, the welterweight veteran rallied to rebound with three straight wins, culminating at UFC 318 against Kevin Holland final July. Rodriguez, 39, has been a ghost ever since, inflicting the MMA world to marvel the place he vanished to. Last week, Rodriguez’s reply got here as a giant shock — he revealed on social media he’d been incarcerated in a Mexican jail in Tijuana.
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Speaking Monday on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Rodriguez mentioned he and a buddy had been on their technique to Mexico for trip two weeks after his Holland win. That’s when all the pieces went awry.
“I went on vacation to cross the border of Mexico,” Rodriguez instructed Uncrowned. “Forgot I had a little bag of weed with me, man. It was under an ounce and got pulled over at the line and got checked — the border patrol were tripping on the weed.
“I was pondering I was solely going to be in [jail] there for most likely the weekend, possibly a little bit bit shorter, however the legal guidelines over there on the market in Mexico, they’re approach totally different. They do not play no video games. So what I was pondering can be a little bit weekend or possibly in a single day was eight months, man. And the prime and the smack of my profession, man.
“This was my first time in a Mexican jail and I can tell you one thing — it’s the worst possible situation.”
Rodriguez recalled getting a intestine feeling earlier than approaching the border. Despite contemplating tossing the bag forward of time, he did not pay attention, and it price him greater than the worth of what was on his individual.
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According to Rodriguez, the automobile he was driving did not have any tags on his entrance license plate, which prompted border management to conduct a search. Rodriguez’s buddy was additionally arrested and put in jail for eight months.
“Usually, there’s opportunities to get yourself out of certain situations over there in Mexico,” Rodriguez mentioned. “I was hoping for that. I had a wallet full of cash with me at the time, and I tried to see if I could catch a break. I tried to see if they could help me out. It wasn’t the police — it was actually the border patrol, the National Guard. They don’t play no games. I didn’t realize that they take it so seriously, and potentially, they hit me with a smuggling charge. So over there, I guess that’s a really big deal. And I tried to offer some money to get me out right there on the spot, but they weren’t going for it, man.
“They tried to make an instance out of me. I was attempting to maintain a low profile, attempting to not allow them to know who I’m and who I was. And it did not work out — it did not work out the approach I needed it to, man.
“It was the most horrible situation you can think of.”
A visit to jail is not a brand new expertise for Rodriguez, as he is brazenly spoken about his time incarcerated in his youth. Mexico was totally different, although. At instances, he felt hopeless and fully not sure of when he’d return house, given the variations between the two nations’ judicial methods and considerations — or lack thereof — for his case.
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Rodriguez mentioned he was initially presupposed to be launched in March. And whereas the prolonged keep exceeded any and all expectations, the UFC welterweight did his finest to make do, managing to realize “VIP” standing amongst his fellow prisoners and the facility’s guards all through his keep.
“To be honest with you, man, it’s just certain privileges,” Rodriguez mentioned. “I don’t want to give away too much because some I don’t want to burn the spot for some of the guys. They’re still living in there, and those little things go a long ways.
“I was lucky to have a few of that, man. It’s not low cost, however I was capable of talk with my family and friends and some family members. That’s just about all I wanted, man. I simply wanted help. I did not count on to be in there that lengthy. I imply, eight, nearly 9 months for a bag of weed is insane. I by no means thought twice, coming from right here in California, in Las Vegas, the cops do not even fear about that stuff, ? Went over to Mexico, and I suppose in Mexico it isn’t even authorized but. So they tried to throw the e book at me. It simply took me all that point to work out a take care of them.”
Rodriguez may have had it better than others in small ways, as he mentioned. But that didn’t make the overall living situation all the more beneficial, especially for a professional athlete.
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In terms of a typical day’s food, Rodriguez called it the “naked minimal,” living off low-protein soups, and servings of tortillas, rice, beans, carrots and potatoes. Finding time to exercise was also a struggle, but thankfully, Rodriguez’s cellmate happened to have some boxing training, which allowed for some technique sharpening whenever possible.
“We solely went to the yard like twice every week, and people days had been the solely days I’d get to run,” Rodriguez said. “I spent the complete time working. I most likely appeared like a crazy-a** dude on the market simply working laps and laps and laps. But it is solely twice every week. I believe the worst half about the complete factor was the meals. I really feel a little bit bit unhealthy, a little bit malnourished. I believe that was the hardest half, the vitamin in there.
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(*8*)
“In there, it’s a whole other world,” he added.
Rodriguez mentioned Mexican UFC featherweight Yair Rodriguez and even the UFC itself tried to “pull some strings” to assist facilitate his launch, however “the Mexican government, they weren’t having it.”
It may have been a lot worse for Rodriguez, and he is conscious of that, given the present world local weather. Ultimately, he discovered his technique to freedom, however not with out placing a deal that left him wanting phrases.
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“I can’t really speak on the details of it, but it’s — yeah, it came at a price,” Rodriguez mentioned of the mechanisms that secured his launch. “I don’t even know if I can say that.”
Now, “D-Rod” is able to flip the web page again to his MMA profession and hold his win streak alive.
The UFC welterweight division is hotter than it has been in current years, opening the door to a number of enjoyable prospects. Fresh off a win this past weekend, the aforementioned Holland has already contacted him for a rematch, Rodriguez revealed. Instead, Rodriguez is aiming greater — like, former champion greater.
“There’s some good offers. Kevin Holland tried to slide in my DMs yesterday, and I’m not interested in that. I already beat him,” Rodriguez mentioned. “I know he won [Saturday], but I really want to shoot for the stars, man. I really want to take this to the highest level possible. We’re possibly looking at a matchup versus Leon Edwards.
“Ideally, a stable three months, I’ll be prepared.”
