Top UFC contender released from Mexican jail after eight months 'in a cage'

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Top UFC contender released from Mexican jail after eight months 'in a cage' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For Daniel Rodriguez, getting locked inside the UFC's Octagon is going to feel like a day at the beach compared to where he has been the past eight months.

Rodriguez posted on social media that he has been released from a Mexican jail after spending the last eight months there. The fighter owns a career record of 20-5, which includes a 10-4 mark with the UFC.

"(Eight) months in a cage in Tijuana, Mexico never killed my spirit," Rodriguez posted on Instagram. "I did everything possible to stay on point and ready for my return to the (UFC) Octagon, expect a hungrier more focused version of myself.

"They tried to take it all (away) now it's time for me to (come back) and show you all the monster (prison) created, thank you to legal and (management) team, family and real friends to help me be a free man today."

Details concerning why Rodriguez was in jail have yet to be revealed. He last competed in July 2025 where he defeated Kevin Holland via decision, adding to wins over Alex Morono and Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Daniel Rodriguez ranked in the UFC's Top-15 at welterweight​

Rodriguez is ranked in the No. 14 position in the official UFC rankings for the welterweight division. The 39-year-old is a native of California and is a former SMASH Global champion.

After winning 10 of his first 11 pro fights, Rodriguez signed with the UFC in 2020 and bested Tim Means via submission. He reeled off two more wins before a decision loss to Nicolas Dalby.

Following a decision win over Mike Perry in 2021, Rodriguez scored three more wins, including a victory vs. Kevin Lee and a split decision over Li Jingliang before falling in his next three to Neil Magny, Ian Machado Garry and Kelvin Gastelum.

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