Daniel Rodriguez to headline UFC Belgrade after release from Mexican prison
Former UFC welterweight Daniel Rodriguez will headline the UFC event in Belgrade, marking his return after an eight-month detention in Mexico.
Daniel Rodriguez is set to headline the UFC fight card in Belgrade on Saturday, facing Uros Medic in the main event. Rodriguez, who was released from a Mexican prison in April after serving eight months for a marijuana possession charge, said he feels grateful for the opportunity.
"Man, I’m super excited," Rodriguez told MMA Fighting. "I’m feeling very grateful and fortunate to be here, man. It’s been a long road and I’m excited to fight on Saturday."
The 39-year-old fighter, who began training in mixed martial arts at age 25, has compiled a 10-4 record, including wins over Mike Perry, Kevin Lee and a decision victory over Kevin Holland at UFC 318. He noted that his time behind bars was a period of uncertainty.
"There was a moment in time where I wasn’t sure if I was going to get out and be able to continue my career," he said. "It was an emotional roller coaster in there, especially coming off a huge win, the biggest win of my life, and then to be thrown in a jail cell and not knowing what was going to happen was definitely super stressful."
Rodriguez added that maintaining his training routine helped him stay focused and that he now views the experience as a lesson in resilience.
"I’m a survivor, man. I can overcome any situation that you could throw at me. If I could take anything from that experience it is just loving life and living a life to its utmost potential," he said.
Uros Medic, the Serbian fighter, also enters the bout on a three-fight winning streak, having finished his most recent opponent Geoff Neal in 79 seconds. The matchup will test Rodriguez’s comeback against a hometown contender.
Rodriguez expressed confidence that a victory would be a personal milestone.
"When I get my hand raised, I don’t really know how I’m going to feel, but I’ll know I’ve been through a lot this past year," he said. "I just trusted the process and getting my hand raised on Saturday is going to make it all come together."
The fight marks Rodriguez’s first major headline appearance since his release, and he indicated plans to share his story more widely after the event.