UFC fighter Daniel Rodriguez is now free to resume his fighting career after spending over half a year in a Mexico prison.
Rodriguez, a veteran of the UFC’s welterweight division, was released last week from a prison in Tijuana, Mexico, after being arrested for possession of marijuana last summer. Two weeks after pulling off a thrilling upset over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 in July 2025, Rodriguez went to Rosarito, Mexico, to celebrate his win. However, he never made it to the coast, as he was stopped and arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border.
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“I went on vacation across the border to Mexico, and I forgot I had a little bag of weed with me,” Rodriguez told Ariel Helwani. “It was under an ounce. I got pulled over at the line and got checked, and man, the border patrol was tripping on the weed. I was thinking I was only going to be in there probably the weekend, maybe a little bit shorter, but the laws over there in Mexico are way different. They don’t play no games. What I thought was going to be probably a little weekend or overnight turned into eight months right in the prime of my career. Yeah, man. That was it.”
Rodriguez disappeared from the MMA scene with his arrest, and many were wondering about his whereabouts. There were rumors circulating of his arrest in Tijuana, but there was never confirmation. Rodriguez said he was arrested for carrying 27 grams of marijuana on him, a little below an ounce, for personal use, which was supposed to be for his celebration of the Holland win.
“I made a mistake in trying to get some weed over the border,” Rodriguez said. “Everybody in Mexico knows the weed over there is trash. I made an honest mistake, and I ended up paying some time for it.”
Rodriguez didn’t expect to be in prison for so long. Being from California, where marijuana is legal, Rodriguez thought he’d be in cuffs for a few days, but he was wrong.
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“The whole judicial system in Mexico is a different world,” Rodriguez said. “They didn’t have a sense of urgency to move my case forward. It took so long, man. There were so many ups and downs. I went to a few court days. I thought I was getting out, and I didn’t end up getting out. Honestly, I was looking at probably getting out until late June or July. Luckily, I got an amazing legal team, and we were able to work some things out, but there’s a whole bunch of requirements and stuff behind it I have to stick to.”
Rodriguez didn’t have an easy time behind bars in Mexico. Although he was “looked out” for by some inmates in “high places,” the living conditions were still not easy.
“It’s the worst possible situation,” Rodriguez explained. “Fortunately, I was able to make the most of it. I was able to pull a couple of strings and get a little workout equipment. I was able to work out and try to stay in shape, but it’s not the same, man. It’s not the same. We only went to the yard twice a week, and those days were the only days I would get to run. I spent the whole time running. I probably looked like a crazy guy out there just running laps and laps, but it’s only twice a week. The worst part about the whole thing was the food. I feel a little bit unhealthy, a little bit malnourished. I think that was the toughest part, the nutrition.”
The guard and inmates knew he was a UFC fighter, and word got around quickly in prison. Rodriguez said he had no issues with anyone, and was respected. His connections were also able to get him a little bit of a better setup, including a better cell, workout equipment, and some access to the internet, which he used to stay in contact with his friends and family.
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Now free and looking to resume his fighting career, Rodriguez feels extra locked in to unlock his full potential. He’s currently on a three-fight winning streak and would like to make it four against a former champion of the division.
“I really want to shoot for the stars, man,” Rodriguez said. “I want to take this to the highest level possible, and I’m looking at a possible matchup with Leon Edwards. I think ideally in a solid three months I’ll be ready.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC fighter reveals wild story of being jailed in Tijuana for months
