Mike Rodriguez confused by appeal rejection, excited to open 2021 victorious
UFC light heavyweight Mike Rodriguez had an impressive 2020 calendar year. Competing twice during the pandemic stricken year, and (essentially) going 2-0, although it is 1-1 on the record books. Rodriguez was in complete control, and looked to have score a TKO finish over Ed Herman, only for referee Chris Tognoni to allow Herman to recover from a mistaken low blow. Herman would go on to win in comeback fashion via submission. Tyson Chartier, manager of Rodriguez, appealed the loss, but the athletic commission decided to reject the appeal.
“I took it as a loss, moved on, onto Danillo [Marques] now,” Rodriguez told MyMMAnews. “I’m just more confused, curiosity, I just want to know why was it rejected. It doesn’t make any sense, I’m thoroughly confused,” Rodriguez continued. “It is what it is, I moved on from it the night it happened, I’ll leave that to Tyson [Chartier].”
Only an event or so later, the replay system was in effect, so it does beg the question of why the appeal was rejected. Either way, Rodriguez was paid his win bonus, as he states “the boss had my back” and the Lauzon MMA product is on to 2021, where he will enter the cage early in the year against Danillo Marques.
“He’s going to use his jiu-jitsu, he’s a black belt under the great Damian Maia,” Rodriguez stated. “He will try to secure his takedowns, I have to neutralize that, pick him apart and play it smart.”
Mike Rodriguez in the interview above also speaks on the moving process for Lauzon’s MMA, his view on Dana White paying him his win bonus, where a win over Marques would put him in the division.
