Daniel Rodriguez: 8 months in Mexican prison is ‘the most horrific circumstance you can conceive of.’
Daniel Rodriguez: 8 months in Mexican prison is ‘the most horrific circumstance you can conceive of.’
Daniel Rodriguez discusses the terrible Mexican prison experience.
The UFC welterweight was recently released from a Mexican jail after serving an eight-month sentence following an arrest at the border for marijuana possession. Rodriguez was fresh off his third consecutive win, a unanimous decision over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 in July, when his 2025 campaign was abruptly cut short.
Rodriguez said this was his first experience behind bars in Mexico, adding that without a doubt, it was the most terrible situation he had ever faced. Thankfully, I was able to make the most of it.
I was able to pull a few strings and get some fitness equipment there so I could work out and attempt to keep in shape, but it wasn’t the same. We only went to the yard twice a week, and those were the only days I got to run. I spent the entire time running; I probably looked like a crazy ass person out there sprinting laps after laps, but it was only twice a week.
In my view, the most unpleasant aspect of the entire experience was the food. I felt a little sick and underweight. I suppose the most difficult thing was the nourishment.
I was coming off a major bout, and my body was in the best shape it had ever been, and then to be tossed and imprisoned in a jail cell, put in one spot, and given the bare minimum of food to eat, it was horrific.”
According to Rodriguez, he had “friends in high places” who later helped him better his living conditions, but his first impression was that he was in severe trouble, and his UFC fighter celebrity status was a mixed bag in terms of how he would be treated in prison.
“My first court date, one of the guards recognized me and started asking me for pictures,” Rodriguez claimed. “I am like, ‘What the hell?'” So all of the guards are right there, taking photos. Some of the convicts noticed this, and one of them said, ‘What’s going on with you?’ and such. I truly didn’t want to say anything.
In a circumstance like that, you want to keep a low profile because, given who I am, it’s like a target on my back. People will want to put you to the test, and you never know. So I just wanted to maintain a low profile.
“Once that happened, I got to the prison, and it’s not how it is here. I’ve been in jail over here, which is similar to the Los Angeles County Jail but is not a ‘real’ prison. But over there, they put you straight into prison, and for the first 12 days, I was in a six-man cell with maybe 25 other people. Dudes were sleeping on the floor, two men per bunk, and I couldn’t sleep.
It was awful in there; it’s horrible. Imagine the worst-case scenario possible. Fortunately, news spread that I was in there, and I was propelled up to the VIP section, where I was fortunate enough to receive some attention.
Yeah, they did show me a lot of love, but in the back of my mind I had a feeling that this guy was using me as protection. I’m like his bodyguard or anything, but I just went with it.”
Rodriguez recently shared a video celebrating his release, which included shots of him training. He claimed he paid guards to let him do some mitt work.
The reason Rodriguez found himself in this situation in the first place stems from his decision to celebrate his victory over Holland.
“Pretty sure you all remember my last fight vs. Kevin Holland; it was a wonderful matchup, and I went on vacation to cross the border,” Rodriguez replied. “I crossed the border into Mexico and forgot I had a small bag of marijuana with me; it was less than an ounce, and I was pulled over, searched, and the border patrol was tripping on the marijuana.
I was assuming I’d only stay in there for the weekend, maybe a little shorter, but the rules in Mexico are very different. They don’t play any games.
“What I expected to be a short weekend or overnight became eight months. That was it, just at the peak of my career.”
Rodriguez isn’t sure why he and his friend’s vehicle were stopped by border patrol, but he claims it was because of a large number of license plate tags. He also believes that he was handled brutally because of the present political tensions between Mexico and the United States and that officials may have sought to make an example of him.
“The police, it was actually the border patrol, the National Guard; they don’t play any games,” Rodriguez replied. “I had no idea they would take it so seriously, and they might charge me with smuggling. “So, I assume that’s a big issue, and I tried to offer some money to get me out right away, but they wouldn’t take it.”
What Rodriguez had believed would be a brief 48-hour sentence in prison grew into eight months, with court dates coming and going without resolution. Rodriguez was particularly saddened by one meeting in March, when he was told that he would not only not be released but that he could be held in prison until the summer. Fortunately for the boxer, that wasn’t the case.
It felt like Mexico’s legal system operated in a completely different realm, with little urgency to advance my case, which is why everything dragged on for such a long time. Rodriguez replied. “There were highs and lows. I went to a few court dates when I believed I was going to get released, but I didn’t, and I was expecting to be there until June or July.
Rodriguez credits his MMA history with assisting him through the most difficult circumstances, as it has done in the past. Not only did the lessons learned from his fighting career provide the mental fortitude required to get through this latest trauma, but they also provided Rodriguez with a support system in his struggle for freedom, including friendships with fellow fighters and mentors who encouraged him during his time in jail.
“If you know my background, you know that this is not my first time going to jail,” Rodriguez replied. “It’s just part of life. My path with MMA has been transformative for me.
We’re able to develop programs and attempt to help people get the children and start programs for them so they may experience what I did, which is discipline and looking forward to something better in life than a lot of the bad stuff, such as gangs.
“In Mexico, things are considerably worse. Shoutout to Raul over at Entram Gym. He sent me a positive letter of recommendation. There were many people. I received a lot of support, including combatants.
Yair Rodriguez attempted to leverage his influence on my behalf, Brian Ortega provided support, and a significant crowd gathered. “My whole management team, including the UFC, wanted to help, but the Mexican government won’t allow it.”
Rodriguez will not reveal how he obtained his release, only that he credits his legal team with pushing the appropriate buttons to make it happen. The 39-year-old is keen to resume his career, and despite being in inadequate training circumstances for the previous eight months, he believes he will be able to schedule a fight by 2026.
“There are some good offers,” Rodriguez stated. I’ve already beaten him. I know he won yesterday, but I really want to strive for the stars and take my game to the next level, and we may perhaps face Leon Edwards. “I think I’ll be ready in about three months.”