UFC"D-Rod" | Rank 15Daniel Rodriguez Record: 20-6-0
MiddleweightRecord20-6-0
Age39
DivisionMiddleweight · #38
Combat Edge Elo1731
Last fightAug 1 2026
Daniel Rodriguez has a 20-6-0 professional record and is 39 years old in the Middleweight division, representing 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Aug 1, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Daniel Rodriguez bio
Personal background
Daniel Rodriguez, known as "D-Rod," is a UFC welterweight and middleweight contender whose late-blooming career is one of the more compelling stories in the division. Born on December 31, 1986, in Alhambra, California, just outside Los Angeles, Rodriguez grew up in a tough, gang-affected environment and spent stretches of his early life in and out of trouble before finding direction through combat sports. He came to mixed martial arts unusually late, beginning to train around age 25 with a boxing foundation, and built his ground game at the renowned 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system under Eddie Bravo. Standing 6'0" with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw-pressuring Rodriguez fights behind heavy volume and a deep submission toolkit, carrying a 20-5 record into the back half of his career.
Path to the UFC
Rodriguez turned professional in 2015 and cut his teeth on the regional and Latin-focused circuits, fighting for promotions including King of the Cage, Combate Americas and Bellator. His lone early stumble came in December 2017, a split-decision loss to Victor Reyna that he answered with a long winning run. He punched his UFC ticket on Dana White's Contender Series in July 2019 with a unanimous-decision win over Rico Farrington, then signed with the promotion as a 33-year-old short-notice find.
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.
Career snapshot
Daniel Rodriguez career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1731Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#241
Welterweight#38of 248 active
Peak1755
Last move-16
Opponent quality1722avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1755 Elo after defeating Jingliang Li (2022-09-10)
Similar Elo in Welterweight
Daniel Rodriguez quick answers
What is Daniel Rodriguez's record?
Daniel Rodriguez's professional MMA record is 20-6-0.
How old is Daniel Rodriguez?
Daniel Rodriguez is 39 years old.
What weight class is Daniel Rodriguez?
Daniel Rodriguez fights at Middleweight in UFC.
What gym does Daniel Rodriguez represent?
Daniel Rodriguez is associated with 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. Combat Edge publishes a gym average once at least 3 active fighters have Elo.
How tall is Daniel Rodriguez?
Daniel Rodriguez is 6'0" tall with a 74" reach.
How much does Daniel Rodriguez weigh?
Daniel Rodriguez competes at Middleweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 184 lbs.
What is Daniel Rodriguez's Combat Edge Elo?
Daniel Rodriguez's Combat Edge Elo is 1731, with a peak Elo of 1755.
How strong is Daniel Rodriguez's recent opposition?
Daniel Rodriguez's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1722 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Daniel Rodriguez's last fight?
Daniel Rodriguez's latest tracked pro fight was against Uros Medic at UFC Fight Night on Aug 1 2026.
What is Daniel Rodriguez's recent form?
Daniel Rodriguez's recent tracked pro form is L-W-W-W-L over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Daniel Rodriguez usually win?
Daniel Rodriguez's 20 recorded wins include 9 knockouts, 4 submissions, and 7 decisions, with 65% ending before the final bell.
9Wins by knockout
4Wins by submission
7Wins by decision
2Loss by knockout
1Loss by submission
3Loss by decision
Daniel Rodriguez stats
Record : 20 / 6 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
7.20Fighter3.80UFC middleweight avg
Significant striking accuracy
49%Fighter48%UFC middleweight avg
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
5.40Fighter3.81UFC middleweight avg
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
58%Fighter52%UFC middleweight avg
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0.51Fighter1.71UFC middleweight avg
Takedown accuracy
50%Fighter35%UFC middleweight avg
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
64%Fighter58%UFC middleweight avg
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0.08Fighter0.64UFC middleweight avg
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Amateur fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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