UFC fighter releases shocking videos of his time in Mexican prison under cartel protection
UFC welterweight Daniel Rodriguez has shared videos of his training regime behind the walls of a prison in Tijuana, Mexico.
D-Rod was on a three-fight winning streak in UFC last year before disappearing for eight months, later posting on social media that it was 'Release Day'.
The Californian 39-year-old told Ariel Helwani last month that he was locked up after forgetting that he was carrying a small amount of cannabis while on holiday south of the border.
“It was under an ounce, and I got pulled over at the line and checked – the border patrol were tripping on the weed,” he said.
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Rodriguez also revealed that he enjoyed a degree of protection while behind bars thanks to his reputation in the octagon.
The southpaw, who has been fighting under the UFC banner since 2020 and is expected to return to action during International Fight Week in July, won his last three bouts to extend his MMA record to 20 wins and five losses.
He ended 2024 with a split decision win over Texan fighter Alex Moreno, followed by a knockout victory against Santiago Ponzinibbio and a win by unanimous decision over fellow Californian Kevin Holland.
Rodriguez was last defeated in a middleweight bout in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2024, when Arizona southpaw Kevin Gastelum beat him by unanimous decision to complete a run of three back-to-back losses in a year and a half.
In a series of Instagram Stories videos posted on Wednesday, Rodriguez took his followers into his most recent stay in prison in Mexico.
😤 Daniel Rodriguez shows how he trained while locked up in a Tijuana prison.
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 14, 2026
🍗 He was eating well there too, showing off BBQ and plenty of other food delivered specially to him. pic.twitter.com/P7CjyWl90f
How UFC star Daniel Rodriguez stayed fit in prison
The videos show Rodriguez working out and sparring in his cell, keeping the legs and core in shape and stretching out after a run in the yard.
"The bounce back is real," the fighter posted in a caption on the first video.
"Since being out I've been carefully getting my body back to where I was at.
"It's been the hardest s*** ever but I'm finally feeling like myself again."
Rodriguez also posted videos of the food consumed at a prison barbecue during his sentence, and of the highlights of his commissary.
Chris Nee