Santa Rosa-trained fighter prepares for UFC debut – The Press Democrat
Imanol Rodríguez walked by the again door of a gymnasium positioned in a warehouse close to Railroad Square in Santa Rosa on a Friday in late January, sporting a camouflage-print backpack full of combined martial arts tools.
He headed to the ring inside Sanchez Boxing MMA, his black curly hair matching his outfit — black T-shirt, black shorts, grey boxing footwear — as he ready for his coaching session.
With a pink bandage on her palms, Rodríguez started to heat up by leaping rope. The session can be lighter: shadow boxing, punching with mitts after which work on the punching baggage.
It was his second time coaching that day, a part of a brand new, fast-paced schedule as Rodriguez prepares to make his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut on Feb. 28 in Mexico City.
Rodriguez, undefeated as an MMA fighter to date with a 6-0 file, will face Kevin Borjas (10-4) at 125 kilos, the UFC’s flyweight division, on the principle card that night time.
The late January session on the Donahue Street gymnasium can be one of many 26-year-old’s final in Sonoma County earlier than spending most of February persevering with his preparation in Mexico.
“His work ethic is exceptional,” stated Rosendo Sánchez, proprietor of the gymnasium. “He comes, he listens, and his attention to detail, as far as what he wants to work on while outperforming everyone, is a quality that a lot of young people don’t have.”
“That was something that attracted me to him, and he’s just a good kid,” Sánchez continued. “It’s putting Santa Rosa on the map.”
Rodríguez caught Sánchez’s consideration final yr when he was a contender on the UFC’s “Ultimate Fighter” actuality present. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier was one of many coaches of the up-and-coming fighters collaborating in this system, and Sánchez, who had been Cormier’s hanging coach, was a part of the coaching staff.
Sanchez additionally labored as a hanging coach for one other UFC Hall of Famer, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in addition to present UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Cormier’s staff chosen Rodríguez as this system’s third alternative, and he ended up making it to the semifinals.
After his participation in that program, Rodríguez was invited to take part in one other UFC program, “Contender Series”, by CEO Dana White. He defeated Roque Conceição by first-round TKO final fall to earn a contract with the UFC.
“It was a lot in a short time, just two months,” Rodríguez stated of his tv expertise. “But we learned a lot from our coaches and teammates. The experience in the UFC cage, I think, is something unique. I’ve gained a lot of experience fighting in the last year, so I’ve learned a lot.”
Originally from Ensenada, on the west coast of Baja California, Mexico, Rodríguez, generally known as “Himan,” now splits his time coaching at each the Santa Rosa de Sánchez gymnasium and the Cormier struggle academy in Gilroy.
Rodríguez credit Sánchez as one of the influential individuals in his rising profession, describing him as a father determine.
“He has become a father to me,” Rodríguez stated of the gymnasium proprietor. “Unfortunately, my father is in heaven, but Rosendo has become that person to whom I can tell my problems and how I feel. He dedicates time to me not only as a coach, but also as part of the family.”
When he steps into the Octagon in Mexico City subsequent weekend, Rodríguez will be a part of a protracted checklist of profitable Mexican-born fighters competing within the UFC. Raul Rosas Jr., additionally from Santa Rosa, is a rising bantamweight at 135 kilos. Mexico has produced quite a few UFC champions through the years, together with Brandon Moreno — who headlines subsequent weekend’s card — Yair Rodríguez and Alexa Grasso.
But Rodríguez, a robust 5-foot-6 puncher, does not need to be generally known as “the next Brandon Moreno” or “the next Canelo Álvarez.”
“The first Imanol Rodríguez,” Rodríguez stated with a smile. “I think my name is going to resonate a lot. This year is going to be a difficult year, but I am going to move up a lot in the division.”
And on the weekend of February 27-29 he may have the help not solely of those that prepare with him in Santa Rosa, but in addition of many followers in Mexico as he begins his path in the direction of a UFC belt.
This is what makes combating in Mexico City much more particular.
“It is a very special moment because I will have my family, my friends and many people who have supported me, who do not have to go to Las Vegas or other countries,” he stated. “I think the fact of being home is very beautiful, and it is very exciting to know that all of Mexico will be watching me.”
Rodríguez will compete within the first struggle of the principle card at “UFC Fight Night” on February 28 on the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The foremost occasion shall be Moreno in opposition to Lone’er Kavanagh at flyweight.
The card is scheduled to start at 5 pm and could be seen reside on Paramount Plus.
