On a late January Friday, Imanol Rodríguez arrived through the back entrance of a Santa Rosa gym, housed in a warehouse near Railroad Square. He carried a camouflage backpack brimming with mixed martial arts equipment.
Matching his black, curly hair, Rodríguez, clad in a black T-shirt, black shorts, and gray boxing shoes, made his way to the ring at Sanchez Boxing MMA, ready for his training session.
With pink hand wraps secured, Rodríguez began his warm-up by jump-roping. The day’s session was slated to be lighter, consisting of shadow boxing, mitt work, and then striking on the heavy bags.
This marked his second training session of the day, integral to his new, accelerated regimen as Rodríguez geared up for his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut on February 28 in Mexico City.
With an unblemished 6-0 MMA record, Rodríguez is set to clash with Kevin Borjas (10-4) in the 125-pound flyweight division on the night’s main card.
The late January session at the Donahue Street gym represented one of the 26-year-old fighter’s final workouts in Sonoma County before he would relocate to Mexico for most of February to continue his preparations.
“His work ethic is exceptional,” remarked gym owner Rosendo Sánchez. “He shows up, he listens, and his attention to detail, in terms of what he wants to focus on while pushing past everyone else, is a quality many young people lack.”
“That’s what drew me to him; he’s just a good kid,” Sánchez continued. “He’s putting Santa Rosa on the map.”
Rodríguez first caught Sánchez’s eye last year during his stint as a contestant on the UFC’s reality show, “Ultimate Fighter.” UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier coached the aspiring fighters on the program, and Sánchez, who had previously served as Cormier’s striking coach, was part of the training staff.
Sánchez’s resume also includes coaching striking for another UFC Hall of Famer, Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as current UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Cormier’s team picked Rodríguez as their third choice on the show, and he ultimately advanced to the semifinals.
Following his run on “Ultimate Fighter,” Rodríguez received an invitation to compete on another UFC program, CEO Dana White’s “Contender Series.” Last fall, he defeated Roque Conceição by first-round technical knockout, securing a UFC contract.
“It was a lot in a short amount of time, just two months,” Rodríguez remarked about his TV experience. “But we learned so much from our coaches and peers. The experience in the UFC cage, I believe, is truly unique. I’ve gained a great deal of fighting experience this past year, so I’ve learned an immense amount.”
Originally from Ensenada on Mexico’s west coast, Rodríguez, affectionately known as “Himan,” now splits his training between Sánchez’s Santa Rosa gym and Cormier’s fight academy in Gilroy.
Rodríguez credits Sánchez as one of the most influential figures in his burgeoning career, describing him as a father figure.
“He has become a father to me,” Rodríguez said of the gym owner. “Unfortunately, my father is in heaven, but Rosendo has become that person I can talk to about my problems and how I feel. He dedicates time to me not just as a coach, but also as part of the family.”
When he steps into the Mexico City Octagon next weekend, Rodríguez will join a distinguished roster of successful Mexican-born fighters competing in the UFC. Raúl Rosas Jr., also from Santa Rosa, is a rising bantamweight at 135 pounds. Mexico has historically produced numerous UFC champions, including Brandon Moreno—who headlines next weekend’s card—Yair Rodríguez, and Alexa Grasso.
However, Rodríguez, a powerful 5-foot-4 striker, doesn’t aspire to be labeled “the next Brandon Moreno” or “the next Canelo Álvarez.”
“The first Imanol Rodríguez,” he declared with a smile. “I believe my name will resonate strongly. This year will be challenging, but I will climb significantly in the division.”
And on the weekend of February 27-29, he will be supported not only by his training partners in Santa Rosa but also by a multitude of fans in Mexico as he begins his journey toward a UFC belt.
This particular detail makes fighting in Mexico City all the more significant.
“It’s a very special moment because I’ll have my family, my friends, and many people who have supported me, who won’t have to travel to Las Vegas or other countries,” he expressed. “I think being home is truly beautiful, and it’s very exciting to know that all of Mexico will be watching me.”
Rodríguez is slated to compete in the inaugural main card bout at “UFC Fight Night” on February 28 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The main event will feature Moreno versus Lone’er Kavanagh in a flyweight contest.
The card is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Paramount Plus.