Michael Earl Rodríguez (born November 28, 1988)[1] is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the light heavyweight division. He has formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
| Mike Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Earl Rodríguez[1] November 28, 1988 Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Other names | Slow |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
| Division | Light heavyweight |
| Reach | 82.5 in (210 cm)[2] |
| Fighting out of | Boston, Massachusetts, United States[2] |
| Team | Lauzon MMA |
| Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 19 |
| Wins | 11 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 2 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Rodríguez started his professional MMA career in 2013 and fought under Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES MMA) and Cage Titans promoters in the northeast region of United States. He achieved a record of 8–2 in Dana White's Contender Series.[4]
Dana White's Contender Series
Rodríguez appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 5 web-series program, facing Jamelle Jones on August 8, 2017.[5] He won the fight via a flying-knee knockout and earned a UFC contract.[6]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Rodríguez made his UFC debut on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223, facing Devin Clark.[7] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[8]
Rodríguez's second UFC fight was on December 15, 2018, at UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 against Adam Milstead.[9] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[10]
Rodríguez faced John Allan on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd.[11] He originally lost the fight via unanimous decision,[12] however, Allen tested positive for a banned hormone and metabolic modulator tamoxifen for which he received a one-year USADA suspension and was fined $4,800 by the California State Athletic Commission which overruled the original decision to a no contest.[13]
Rodríguez faced Da Un Jung on December 21, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 165.[14] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[15]
Rodríguez faced Marcin Prachnio on August 22, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 15.[16] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[17]
Rodríguez faced Ed Herman on September 12, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 177.[18] He lost the fight via a kimura in round three.[19] Due to a controversial decision by the referee to pause the fight in the second round after mistaking a clean shot from Rodríguez for a low blow, the organization awarded Rodríguez his win bonus despite the loss.[20] Subsequently, Rodríguez's team also appealed the loss with the NSAC.[21] In turn, the request for an appeal was denied.[22]
Rodríguez faced Danilo Marques on February 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 184.[23] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke in round two.[24]
Rodríguez faced Tafon Nchukwi on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192.[25] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[26]
After the loss, Rodríguez was released by the UFC.[27]
Mixed martial arts record
| 19 matches | 11 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 3 |
| By decision | 0 | 3 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 12–7 (1) | Jeremy May | TKO (elbows) | CES 69 | June 17, 2022 | 1 | 3:25 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 11–7 (1) | Tafon Nchukwi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | September 18, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–6 (1) | Danilo Marques | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov | February 6, 2021 | 2 | 4:52 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 (1) | Ed Herman | Submission (kimura) | UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill | September 12, 2020 | 3 | 4:01 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 (1) | Marcin Prachnio | KO (elbow and punches) | UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar | August 22, 2020 | 1 | 2:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–4 (1) | Da Un Jung | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie | December 21, 2019 | 1 | 1:04 | Busan, South Korea | |
| NC | 10–3 (1) | John Allan | NC (overturned) | UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd | July 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | Scored a decision win for Arte; overturned as he tested positive for tamoxifen. |
| Win | 10–3 | Adam Milstead | TKO (knee to the body and punches) | UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 | December 15, 2018 | 1 | 2:59 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Devin Clark | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 223 | April 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 | Jamelle Jones | KO (flying knee) | Dana White's Contender Series 5 | August 8, 2017 | 1 | 2:15 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Alec Hooben | TKO (punches and elbows) | CES MMA 44 | May 12, 2017 | 1 | 4:46 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | James Dysard | TKO (punches) | CES MMA 43 | April 15, 2017 | 1 | 0:39 | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Hector Sanchez | KO (punches) | CES MMA 41 | January 27, 2017 | 1 | 0:07 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Kevin Haley | Submission (toe hold) | CES MMA 39 | November 4, 2016 | 1 | 1:08 | Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 5–1 | John Poppie | Submission (triangle choke) | CES MMA 38 | September 23, 2016 | 2 | 1:32 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Catchweight (192 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–1 | Stephond Ewins | KO (flying knee) | CES MMA 37 | August 12, 2016 | 1 | 3:38 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Catchweight (200 lb) bout. |
| Win | 3–1 | Buck Pineau | Submission (rear-naked choke) | CES MMA 35 | April 16, 2016 | 2 | 4:03 | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Pat McCrohan | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 32 | January 8, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Stephen Stengel | TKO (punches) | Cage Titans 21 | November 1, 2014 | 1 | 1:22 | Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Ralph Johnson | TKO (retirement) | Cage Titans 18 | May 5, 2014 | 1 | 3:50 | Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States | Middleweight debut. |