Daniel Rodriguez Record: 20-5-0

Welterweight breakthrough

Rodriguez made an immediate impression in the octagon. He opened his UFC run in February 2020 by submitting veteran Tim Means with a second-round guillotine, then beat Gabe Green by decision and knocked out Dwight Grant in the first round in August 2020. A unanimous-decision loss to Nicolas Dalby in November 2020 briefly slowed him, but he surged again in 2021 with a decision over fan favorite Mike Perry, a first-round TKO of Preston Parsons, and a unanimous-decision win over former lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee.

Climbing and rebuilding

In September 2022, Rodriguez edged longtime contender Jingliang Li by split decision at UFC 279, a quality win at the top of the welterweight pack. He then hit a rough patch: a submission loss to veteran Neil Magny in November 2022, a first-round head-kick TKO defeat to undefeated prospect Ian Machado Garry in 2023, and a 2024 decision loss to former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum up at middleweight. Rather than fade, Rodriguez reinvented himself, rattling off a split-decision win over Alex Morono in October 2024, a third-round TKO of Santiago Ponzinibbio in May 2025, and a unanimous-decision win over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 in July 2025. He is next scheduled to face Uros Medic.

Fighting style

Rodriguez is a pressure fighter who blends a boxing-based striking attack with a well-developed 10th Planet grappling game — 13 of his 20 wins have come by finish (nine knockouts, four submissions) for a 65% finish rate. He pushes a high pace, mixes punches to the body and head with timely takedown threats, and is dangerous off his back and in scrambles thanks to his jiu-jitsu pedigree. His durability and willingness to take fights on short notice have defined his run, though he has shown he can be caught by elite power and high-level grappling, as his losses to Garry and Magny demonstrated.

Career highlights

• Late-start success story — began training around age 25 and turned pro in 2015, yet built a 20-5 record and a long UFC run as a top welterweight.
• Signature wins — defeated Mike Perry, Kevin Lee and Jingliang Li, beating established names to cement his place near the top of the division.
• Three-fight resurgence — bounced back from a tough stretch with wins over Alex Morono, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Kevin Holland in 2024-25.