Daniel Rodriguez says he is out after spending the past eight months in jail in Tijuana, Mexico, and he wants to resume his UFC career. In an Instagram Reel, Rodriguez showed himself training inside the jail and wrote that the time there “never killed my spirit.” He also said fans should expect “a hungrier more focused version” of him when he returns. The post itself is the center of the story here, and it comes after a stretch where Rodriguez had already worked his way back into the welterweight mix, including earlier attention around his past and career path.
Rodriguez wrote, “8 months in a cage in Tijuana Mexico never killed my spirit.” He added, “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 aaway now it’s time for me to comeback and show you all the monster prisoon created, thank you to legal and managment team, family and real friends to help me be a free man today.”
What is not available yet are the underlying details of the arrest. His management team said a fuller statement is expected next week, so the public facts remain limited to what Rodriguez posted and what his team confirmed.
Watch the Instagram post below:
Rodriguez was on a three-fight winning streak before this interruption
The timing matters because Rodriguez was not coming off a skid. He last fought at UFC 318 in July 2025, where he beat Kevin Holland by unanimous decision. That win extended his streak to three straight after a split decision over Alex Morono and a third-round finish of Santiago Ponzinibbio. In other words, this was not a fringe roster comeback pitch. Rodriguez had put together real results after earlier setbacks, including losses covered by his fight with Kelvin Gastelum and the Ian Machado Garry defeat.
Rodriguez is listed in the report at 20-5 in MMA and 10-4 in the UFC, with a No. 14 spot at welterweight. If the legal situation is resolved and there are no restrictions on his return, he still has a relevant place in the division. The next real development will be the fuller explanation his team says is coming. Until then, the important fact is that Rodriguez says he is out and wants back.
