LAS VEGAS – Daniel Rodriguez thinks he’s got no time to waste.
The UFC welterweight doesn’t think he can afford to make much time off and believes now is the time to make the most out of his MMA career. Rodriguez (14-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is coming off a decision win over Mike Perry at Saturday’s UFC on ABC 2 event in Las Vegas. It arguably was one of his best performances in the UFC.
Rodriguez thinks he’s in his prime and wants to be as active as possible.
“Man, I’m just trying to keep it going,” Rodriguez said at the UFC on ABC 2 post-fight news conference. “I don’t have the luxury of taking time off. I’m 34 years old. I haven’t been doing this that long, but I feel like I’m in my prime and it’s just time, it’s just go time for me right now.
“I feel like I need to get in as many fights as possible, so I don’t mind taking short notice fights. The UFC can count on me being ready. It’s go time for me.”
As far as his win over Perry, Rodriguez is glad he got a full camp and thought that was a big factor in his dominant performance. But even then, Rodriguez wants short-notice opportunities if they come up.
Rodriguez expected to beat Perry on the feet since he thought he was the more technical fighter.
“It went exactly how I thought it would go,” Rodriguez said. “Going in there, I felt like we both had equally as much power. He’s a strong dude. He was able to take me down. But he’s a shorter, stockier guy, and he’s strong.
“But on the ground, he wasn’t able to cause any damage. I was able to control the position, and the second time he took me down I was able to get back on the feet. I was the faster, more technical guy. He let me work at my range and didn’t really cut off the distance too much. I was able to pick him apart.”
Daniel Rodriguez hopes UFC keeps him busy after Mike Perry win: ‘It’s go time for me’