UFC welterweight contender Daniel Rodriguez has confirmed he is fighting Leon Edwards at the upcoming UFC 329 card.
Rodriguez, who was recently released from a Mexican prison following eight months due to what he said was taking marijuana across the border, is the No. 14-ranked fighter in the UFC welterweight division. Freshly out of prison, “D-Rod” already has his next fight booked, as he is set to take on the former UFC welterweight champion Edwards at UFC 329, which takes place on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Rodriguez confirmed the UFC offered him a fight with Edwards, and he has accepted the bout.
“I’m probably looking at International Fight Week, and I got an offer, an amazing offer, so you guys will probably see me in there with Leon Edwards at International Fight Week, sometime around July,” Rodriguez said. “(The UFC offered the fight) just today man. Thinking about it, I’m making the decision right now. I’m accepting the offer for Leon Edwards at International Fight Week.”
Daniel Rodriguez is on a Three-Fight Win Streak
Rodriguez is currently on a three-fight win streak, having beaten Kevin Holland, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Alex Morono in his last three bouts. The Holland victory was the most impressive of the bunch, as Rodriguez entered the fight as a heavy +500 underdog yet found a way to win against a quality opponent.
Rodriguez first entered the UFC in 2020, and since then, he has held an overall record of 10-4 while fighting the best fighters in the world. Though he is now 39 years old, Rodriguez remains ranked in the top 15 of his weight class, and if he can get past Edwards, he will be ranked in the top 10. While there are other contenders ahead of him regarding a potential UFC welterweight title shot, should Rodriguez get past Edwards, he would likely only be one or two more wins away from fighting for the belt.
Leon Edwards has Lost Three Straight Fights
Edwards, the former UFC welterweight champion, is the No. 8-ranked welterweight right now, but he is clinging to his spot in the top 10 by the skin of his teeth. That’s because Edwards has lost his last three fights in a row, and he is coming off an absolutely brutal KO loss to Carlos Prates in his last fight.
That being said, while Edwards has been on a skid as of late, he remains a former champion and a quality fighter at 170 lbs who has proven he has what it takes to be the best in the world. Rodriguez will be another difficult task for Edwards, but he will have a chance to get a much-needed win over a ranked opponent if he can get his hand raised. Should Edwards lose, however, it would mark his fourth straight defeat inside the Octagon, and it’s very difficult for a fighter to come back from that kind of skid.
Rodriguez vs. Edwards has not been made official yet for UFC 329, but since Rodriguez has formally accepted the offer, look for the promotion to announce the fight soon.
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