LAS VEGAS – UFC middleweight Gregory Rodrigues in on the verge of having his life change forever, and is happy the promotion granted his request for a fight in September.
Coming off a first-round stoppage of Julian Marquez in June, Rodrigues (12-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wanted to get one more fight in 2022 before he welcomes his daughter into the world. At UFC Fight Night 210, he meets fellow Dana White’s Contender Series veteran Chidi Njokuani in the co-main event at UFC Apex on Saturday.
“My third fight this year, but that fight in September is one of the best reasons in my life, because my baby is coming up next month,” Rodrigues told reporters including MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day. “After the fight against Julian, I asked Dana, I asked the UFC to give me a fight in September for be ready my baby’s coming. They give me that, so thank you UFC, thank you Dana, thank you Mick (Maynard). …
“I’m happy, bro. It’s a life change for me in all points – in my family, my professional – and I’m so happy.”
Before Rodrigues can focus on the new addition to his family, he has a tough task ahead of him in Njokuani (22-7 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who has won four bouts in a row by stoppage. Even though his opponent has twice the professional experience as him, Rodrigues believes he has all the tools needed to get the job done.
“I like the fight, I want the fight,” Rodrigues said. “That makes sense for me, it makes sense for him, you know, the point we are right now in the UFC. I’m always looking up and I’m not picking my fights, not choosing my fights. I’m a fighter, and a fight’s a fight.
“I like Chidi, I respect him. He’s a tough opponent, tough guy. But I know who I am and I know where I want to go. He’s just going to be one more challenge for me, and I’m a guy that takes a challenge, and I do it.”
As for what type of fight he’s expecting from his opponent, Rodrigues is ready to take the fight wherever it goes. Aside from joking that he doesn’t want to get his face messed up, Rodrigues knows it will be a tough challenge, but it’s one he’s looking forward to before returning home and taking time away to focus on family.
“I’m ready for everything,” Rodrigues said. “I don’t want an easy fight, I don’t want an easy life. My life was hard. It’s hard to be here. I passed through hard things in my journey. So, I don’t want to be the champion of the losers, I want to be the champion of champions.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.