Daniel Rodriguez expects Mike Perry to fight for his job at UFC on ABC 2
Daniel Rodriguez can see his upcoming fight from the perspective of his opponent.
He meets Mike Perry at UFC on ABC 2 on April 10. Perry, a 14-time UFC veteran, is 1-3 in his last four octagon appearances. Rodriguez anticipates Perry will be fighting for his job.
“I am expecting the best Mike Perry. He’s probably feeling like, ‘Damn, I might lose my job,’ he just had a kid, so I just try to put myself in his shoes,” Rodriguez said.
“He’s hungry because I’m a threat, I’m dangerous and I’m about to take his [expletive] out. At the same time, I keep that in mind. Despite his skillset, I won’t slack off on anything.”
Daniel Rodriguez underwent his first-full fight camp since joining the UFC
Rodriguez is looking to re-enter the win column himself. After nine-consecutive victories, including three-straight wins inside the octagon, Rodriguez dropped a unanimous decision loss to Nicolas Dalby at UFC 255 this past November.
For the first time in his UFC career, Rodriguez is coming off a full-fight camp. All of his previous octagon appearances came on four-weeks notice or less.
“This fight has been a long camp, I feel like everything is right on schedule, everything is right on schedule and right where it’s supposed to be,” Rodriguez said. “This is my first full fight camp in the UFC.”
Time well spent
The 34-year-old is using his 12-week fight camp to train all over the West. Along with training at his home gym, the BMF Ranch in New Mexico, he also spent time at Syndicate MMA, the UFC Performance Institute and the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu branch in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He is currently training at The Yard Muay Thai and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Los Angeles, California. He is making the most of his 12 weeks.
“I took this fight very seriously, I’ve been traveling all over the place,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just trying to work twice as hard as everyone else.”
Opportunity
Rodriguez welcomes the opportunity ahead. Not only is he fighting a more notable opponent in Perry, but he will be fighting Perry on ABC.
Rodriguez already holds a UFC debut victory over a proven veteran Tim Means, who is a 19-time UFC veteran. Means most recently defeated Perry by unanimous decision at UFC 255.
Perry is exactly the type of opponent Rodriguez wants at this point, someone who is more well known. He plans to take some of Perry’s notoriety with a win on April 10.
He only wants more from there.
“It’s an opportunity if anything. He’s a big name, some exciting fights, some good wins,” Rodriguez said. “This is the perfect opportunity to get the next level opponents I am trying to reach in the UFC.”
