Tag: Ronaldo Rodriguez

UFC on ESPN 64 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $33 million

UFC Mexico fighters took home Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, with Kelvin Gastelum and Drew Dober leading the way.

MEXICO CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 64 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $168,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 64 took place at Arena CDMX in Mexico. The card aired on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 64 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]CJ Vergara[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Vince Morales[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]David Martinez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Saimon Oliveira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Kevin Borjas[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ateba Gautier[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jose Daniel Medina[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Melquizael Costa[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Christian Rodriguez[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Julia Polastri[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rafa Garcia[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Gabriel Miranda[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]MarQuel Mederos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag]: $11,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,640; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-64 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,118,000
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $33,135,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.

Kevin Borjas vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 64

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom goes inside the Kevin Borjas vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez fight at UFC Mexico.

[autotag]Kevin Borjas[/autotag] and [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag] meet Saturday in the main card opener of UFC on ESPN 64 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event: 4-2
UFC main cards, 2025: 25-22-1

Kevin Borjas vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez UFC Mexico preview

Borjas (9-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) will be looking for his first UFC win on his opponent’s home turf … “Lazy Boy” Rodriguez (17-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) ruled himself out of the possibility for a post-fight bonus when he missed weight for his home-country, high-profile fight.

Kevin Borjas vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez UFC Mexico expert pick, prediction

Kicking off the main card is a fantastic flyweight fight that promises fireworks between [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag] and [autotag]Kevin Borjas[/autotag].

Despite having a hiccup on the scale, Rodriguez still finds himself as the odds-on favorite in this fight. And though I don’t disagree with the odds, Rodriguez’s ‘tempt fate’ style of pressuring and countering can be costly at times.

For that reason, I suspect that Borjas will make this fight much more competitive than most expect.

A Peruvian action fighter who appears to have modeled his striking off of a WEC-era Jose Aldo, Borjas brings all the fun in the form of flying knees to left hooks to the liver. Rodriguez also has a solid left hook of his own, but hooking exchanges have proven to be potent two-way streets for both men.

With that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rodriguez funneled into utilizing his grappling advantages over Borjas in this fight.

The pick is Rodriguez by submission in Round 2.

Kevin Borjas vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez UFC Mexico odds

The oddsmakers and the public are slightly favoring the Mexican fighter, listing Rodriguez -154 and Oliveira +130 via FanDuel.

Kevin Borjas vs. Ronaldo Rodriguez UFC Mexico start time, how to watch

Borjas and Rodriguez are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 7:05 p.m. ET. The fight airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.

UFC on ESPN 64’s Ronaldo Rodriguez already feels like a champion, only thing missing is a belt

Ronaldo Rodriguez is embracing his popularity ahead of UFC on ESPN 64.

MEXICO CITY – [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag] is embracing his popularity ahead of UFC on ESPN 64.

Rodriguez (17-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) takes on Kevin Borjas (9-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in Saturday’s flyweight main card opener (ESPN2, ESPN+) at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.

“Lazy Boy,” who’s already amassed 2 million followers on Instagram, admits he was hoping for a higher billing on the card.

“It would have been great for me to actually be a co-main event, but this is what you get, and this is what you make the most out of,” Rodriguez told MMA Junkie through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Getting close to the title, that’s what we want to do.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take, and I don’t know how many fights it’s going to take for me to get there. It may take time. Experience comes with time, and with this time and the experience I’m getting, I know I’m going to be a champion. I already feel like a champion, like a Mexican champion. The only thing missing is a belt, and I will get that chance.”

Rodriguez isn’t entirely surprised to see his fandom skyrocket with just two UFC fights under his belt.

“The success, yes, because this has been the byproduct of so much work, so many years,” Rodriguez said. “I have worked and dedicated myself to this for so many years to keep going. You know what I’ve been through – I fought this my entire life, and I dedicated myself.

“Everyone knows here: We’re Mexican and nothing gets gifted to us. This is earned, and we go through a lot of things to get where we need to go. So the success that I’ve gotten, I didn’t expect it to be that quick, but yes, I expected this level of success.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.

UFC’s Daniel Barez sees Andre Lima as a more difficult rival than ‘Lazy Boy’ Rodriguez

UFC flyweight Daniel Barez believes he got a more difficult rival in Andre Lima than his original callout of ‘Lazy Boy’ Rodriguez.

[autotag]Daniel Barez[/autotag] tried to pick a fight with [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag], but instead got unbeaten prospect [autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag].

Barez (17-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Lima (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) are set to clash this Saturday at UFC Fight Night 254 (ESPN+), which is set to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The Spanish fighter thought he was a good matchup for “Lazy Boy” and doesn’t know why Rodriguez ended up drawing Kevin Borjas instead of him for the UFC’s return to Mexico City at the end of the month.

“I wasn’t told anything,” Barez told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “I kept sharing stuff on my social media in terms of wanting that fight, but it didn’t happen. I took a shot to see if it would land, but that doesn’t depend solely on me. And like I’ve always said, whoever they put on the contract, I’m signing because I want to be here, and I want to fight against the best, and I just want to fight people who are ahead of me.”

Although Barez didn’t get what he wanted, he is pretty happy with his matchup against Lima. He thinks it’s a more difficult fight, but one that could further his standing in the UFC flyweight division a lot.

“On paper, yeah (it’s more difficult),” Barez said. “On paper, I’d even say it’s more complicated than the Victor Altamirano one. So yeah, this might be too on paper. However, sometimes a style doesn’t go well with another one.

“Altamirano was maybe not too difficult, and this one might be even easier or maybe even a lot harder. We won’t know until the fight happens. But on paper, yeah, it’s more difficult.”

Barez is determined to get his hand raised and get build off his decision win over Victor Altamirano last September. He also thinks the matchup lends itself for a $50,000 Fight Night bonus.

“I think it’s going to be a hard fight, but I see myself finishing the fight before the third round to not leave the fight on the hands of the judges,” Barez said. “I also see myself, or both of us, winning a bonus because we’re both good strikers with a lot of tools.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.

Every UFC newcomer in 2024: Full list of over 100 debuting fighters

Check out the names and records of each fighter who made their UFC debut in 2024.

Every year, the UFC welcomes new faces to the promotion.

Some will become ranked fighters, future title challengers, and possibly champions. A couple of names have already made a significant impact in their debut year.

Kayla Harrison, who is ranked No. 2 by the promotion in the women’s bantamweight division, is likely next up for a title shot. Carlos Prates claimed No. 14 in the welterweight division after ripping through four opponents.

On the flip side, unfortunately, some of the names will fizzle out and look to continue their careers in other promotions.

In 2024, the new names and faces reached triple digits, totaling 103. Those fighters went 46-57. Debuting fighters who faced an opponent with at least one bout of UFC experience went 29-39.

Check out the full list of debuting fighters and their records below:

UFC debuting fighters in 2024

  • [autotag]Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]AJ Cunningham[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Alice Ardelean[/autotag] (9-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Andre Lima[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Angel Pacheco[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Antonio Trocoli[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Baergeng Jieleyisi[/autotag] (19-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Bekzat Almakhan[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Bernardo Sopaj[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Bolaji Oki[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Cameron Smotherman[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Carli Judice[/autotag] (3-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag] (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Carlos Vera[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Cesar Almeida[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Changho Lee[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Charalampos Grigoriou[/autotag] (8-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Chris Padilla[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Cody Haddon[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Connor Matthews[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Cortavious Romious[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Danny Barlow[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Danny Silva[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Dariya Zheleznykova[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Dione Barbosa[/autotag] (7-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]DongHun Choi[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Dylan Budka[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ernesta Kareckaite[/autotag] (5-1-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Felipe Bunes[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Felipe Lima[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Feng Xiaocan[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Hyder Amil[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ivan Erslan[/autotag] (14-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]James Llontop[/autotag] (14-5 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
  • [autotag]Jean Matsumoto[/autotag] (16-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Jhonata Diniz[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Jordan Vucenic[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Jose Medina[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Jose Ochoa[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Julia Polastri[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Kaan Ofli[/autotag] (11-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Kai Asakura[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Kiru Sahota[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Klaudia Sygula[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Lone’er Kavanagh[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Lucas Rocha[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Luis Pajuelo[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Magomed Gadzhiyasulov[/autotag] (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Mansur Abdul-Malik[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]MarQuel Mederos[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Mauricio Ruffy[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Mitch Ramirez[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Mitch Raposo[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Nathan Fletcher[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Navajo Stirling[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Nikolay Veretennikov[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Nyamjargal Tumendemberel[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Oban Elliott[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Oumor Sy[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ozzy Diaz[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Pedro Falcao[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Puja Tomar[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Quang Le[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Rafael Cerqueira[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ramazan Temirov[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ramon Taveras[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Rei Tsuruya[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Reinier de Ridder[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Robert Bryczek[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Robert Valentin[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Roberto Romero[/autotag] (8-4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Ryan Loder[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Sean Sharaf[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Serhiy Sidey[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Shi Ming[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Stephanie Luciano[/autotag] (6-1-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Steven Nguyen[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Stewart Nicoll[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]SuYoung You[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Thomas Petersen[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Timmy Cuamba[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Tom Nolan[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Tuco Tokkos[/autotag] (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Valter Walker[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Victor Hugo[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Wang Cong[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Xiao Long[/autotag] (27-9 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Yi Zha[/autotag] (25-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
  • [autotag]Zachary Scroggin[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
  • [autotag]Zhang Mingyang[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
  • [autotag]Zygimantas Ramaska[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)

Spain’s Daniel Barez calls out ‘Lazy Boy’ Rodriguez for UFC flyweight showdown: ‘Let’s see who has better Mexican boxing’

UFC’s Daniel Barez challenges Ronaldo Rodriguez to see who’s got the best “Mexican boxing.”

[autotag]Daniel Barez[/autotag] wants to test himself against one of the hottest names in the UFC’s flyweight division today.

The Spanish fighter is hoping to get booked against Mexico’s [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag], better known as “Lazy Boy,” for his next trip to the octagon. Barez (17-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) thinks it is a fight that lends itself to be a fan-friendly affair and thinks it is a next step that makes sense for both parties.

“He’s a fighter that had to go through a lot to get in the UFC as well,” Barez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “He went to Contender Series, lost, and then came back – which is very similar to my path.

“He’s a warrior, he’s Mexican, and I train in Mexico as well, and he has a warrior’s spirit. I think it would be a really good fight. He has really good boxing and good wrestling and jiu-jitsu. He has two UFC fights like me, so I don’t think I’m asking for anything crazy. I hope I get it.”

Barez is coming off a unanimous decision over Victor Altamirano at a UFC Fight Night in Paris last month. Meanwhile, “Lazy Boy” also comes off a decision win, as he outpointed Ode Osbourne at UFC 306 at Sphere.

Although he was already on his radar, Barez liked what he saw from Rodriguez (17-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), which made him even more interested in calling him out.

“I thought it was a very tough fight, and yet he was able to pull off the comeback after getting knocked down by his opponent,” Barez said. “The truth is that that’s why I’d love to fight him. He’s a guy that fights till the very end, and I consider myself the same type of fighter. I fight till the end, and I don’t give up. That’s why I want to fight him.”

Barez was born and still lives in Spain, but he does a good chunk of his training camps at Entram Gym in Tijuana, Mexico. Throughout his years traveling to the Americas, Barez has picked up the world-famous Mexican boxing style – which he would like to put to the test against a native.

“He’s Mexican, and he trains his boxing with great pros,” Barez said. “I’m Spanish, but I’ve been training a long time in Mexico, so I’d love to box him. He boxes well, but so do I. I hit very hard and I can knock anyone out in the division, just like he can. So let’s see who has better Mexican boxing, let’s throw down.”

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Ronaldo Rodriguez recounts wild comeback win at UFC 306: ‘I was fighting on automatic pilot’

Mexico’s Ronaldo Rodriguez looks back at his wild comeback win over Ode Osbourne at last month’s UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag] went through hell and back to leave UFC 306 with his hand raised.

The Mexican flyweight prospect was basically knocked out in the opening seconds of his fight with Ode Osbourne last month at Noche UFC at Sphere. Rodriguez (17-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was hit with a counter right hand and fell flat on his back and his arms away from his face. From there, “Lazy Boy” took some extra shots and was put in a tight triangle choke for a good minute, all while badly rocked.

“I remember the hospital, that, I remember well,” Rodriguez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “Brother, I was fighting on automatic pilot. That Mexican heart, that Aztec blood that runs through my veins, that was what gave me the victory. It was God’s power and faith in God. The Holy Spirit went in my body and got me back up. It got me back up, and it didn’t allow me to give up because I can’t find any other explanation when I was knocked out on that octagon, when I was about to get submitted. I can’t find an explanation. That was God.”

Rodriguez not only survived the sequence, but went on to win the remaining two rounds to win a decision on the judges’ scorecards. It was easily one of the best comeback wins of 2024. The 25-year-old flyweight vaguely remembers the fight, and thanks his corner for keeping him locked in.

“I do remember, but it’s a bit of a blur, like flashes,” Rodriguez said. “What I do remember well is my coach bringing me back. I told my corner after the first round, ‘Hey, I’m knocked out.’ I told them as soon as I got back from that first round that I was out. That’s what I saw in the replay and that’s when my coach Mike Gonzalez told me, ‘Brother, you need to come out with everything. We now know he’s got nothing on you on the ground. He can’t stop you there. You’re better than him.’ Thanks to my coach’s advice, we got the win.”

Rodriguez, who joined the UFC with a ton of hype and a big following from Mexico, is now 2-0 in the promotion. As far as what’s next, Rodriguez is down to fight wherever, whenever and against whoever.

“I’d fight against the best right now, but you know that decision doesn’t fall on me,” Rodriguez said. “I’m ready. I’m a hardworking man. I’m someone who’s like, ‘Oh, you want me to fight this guy? Where do I sign?’ I’m not someone who ponders on that and thinks if this is a good matchup or not, or anything like that. No. Beyond being an athlete, I’m a fighter.”

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UFC 306 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: O’Malley, Grasso net $42,000 for entering as champs

Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso got the biggest checks from the Promotional Guidelines Compliance program fro UFC 306, which paid $239,500.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 306 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $239,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 306 took place at Sphere. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 306 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Esteban Ribovics[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Joshua Van[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $6,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,721,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $28,458,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Ronaldo Rodriguez def. Ode Osbourne at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Ronaldo Rodriguez’s win unanimous decision win over Ode Osbourne at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]’s win unanimous decision win over [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag] at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas. (Fight and venue photos by Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA Today Sports)

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC 306

Are things lined up for “Lazy Boy” Ronaldo Rodriguez to shine bright on the big stage of Noche UFC?

[autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag] and [autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 0-5
UFC main cards, 2024: 76-66-3

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne UFC 306 preview

Osbourne (12-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC) will enter UFC 306 in danger of reaching the dreaded three-fight skid after losses to Asu Almabayev and Jafel Filho. Both times, Osbourne submitted to rear-naked chokes. … Rodriguez (16-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, is on a six-fight overall winning streak, which includes his UFC debut this past February when he beat Denys Bondar by rear-naked choke. “Lazy Boy,” who’s just 25, has a big opportunity to make a name for himself on the biggest of stages.

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne UFC 306 expert pick, prediction

I’m happy to see Rodriguez make it to the big stage, especially since I thought he got a raw deal on the scorecards opposite Jerome Rivera in his shot on the Contender Series back in 2020. That said, “Lazy Boy” will find himself opposite another experienced foe in Osbourne.

I think that Osbourne might be the more technical fighter in every area, but I also understand why he’s the underdog in this spot.

Even though Osbourne is an incredibly dynamic fighter who can execute eye-catching offense early on in fights, the Jamaican-American has a propensity to fade if the fight is not going his way.

Rodriguez may not be as accoladed as a grappler on paper, but the Mexican has shown excellent defense and scrambling ability – something he uses to end up on top of opponents.

Should Rodriguez get through Osbourne’s offering in the first frame, then I suspect he’ll be able to shut down a lot of his opponent’s hopes with his potent counter-offense.

I’ll pick Rodriguez to score a guillotine choke in Round 2.

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne UFC 306 odds

Rodriguez will enter UFC 306 as a -162 favorite, with Osbourne a +136 underdog, according to DraftKings.

Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne UFC 306 start time, how to watch

Osbourne and Rodriguez are expected to walk out to the octagon at approximately 10:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. locally in Las Vegas). The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.