Imanol Rodríguez Prepares for His UFC Debut
On a Friday in late January, Imanol Rodríguez entered a warehouse gym in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square, carrying a camo-patterned backpack filled with mixed martial arts equipment. Heading towards the ring at Sanchez Boxing MMA, his outfit mirrored his black, curly hair — featuring a black shirt, shorts, and gray boxing shoes — as he geared up for training.
With pink hand wraps in place, Rodríguez initiated his warm-up with some jump rope exercises. This session was designed to be lighter, incorporating shadow boxing, pad work, and heavy bag training. It marked his second workout of the day, part of an intense training regimen leading up to his UFC debut set for February 28 in Mexico City.
Rodríguez enters the matchup undefeated with a professional MMA record of 6-0, facing Kevin Borjas, who has a record of 10-4, in the flyweight division. The late January workout at the Donahue Street gym would be one of his last sessions in Sonoma County before he heads to Mexico for further preparation throughout February.
“His work ethic is exceptional,” commented Rosendo Sanchez, the owner of the gym. “He comes in ready to learn and pays careful attention to detail, putting in hard work that many younger fighters lack.” Sanchez added, “That was part of what attracted me to him. He’s a good kid making Santa Rosa proud.”
Rodríguez first came to Sanchez’s attention last year as a participant in the UFC’s “Ultimate Fighter” reality show, where UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier served as a coach. Sanchez, having coached Cormier in striking, was on his training team. Rodríguez was selected as the number three pick in that show and reached the semifinals, eventually earning a spot on the UFC’s “Contender Series,” where he secured a contract with a TKO victory over Roque Conceição.
Originally from Ensenada, Mexico, and now dividing his training between Sanchez’s gym in Santa Rosa and Cormier’s wrestling academy in Gilroy, Rodríguez considers Sanchez a crucial figure in his life, describing him as a father figure. “He has become like a father to me,” Rodríguez shared. “My father has passed, but Rosendo is someone I can share my feelings with, providing me guidance as a coach and as family.”
As Rodríguez steps into the octagon in Mexico City, he joins an impressive roster of Mexican fighters in the UFC, including the likes of Brandon Moreno, Yair Rodríguez, and Alexa Grasso. However, Rodríguez aims to carve his own identity, stating, “I want to be known as the first Imanol Rodríguez. I believe my name is going to resonate. It’s going to be a challenging year, but I’m determined to rise in the rankings.” Competing at home makes this fight all the more meaningful, as he anticipates the support of family and friends watching him from the stands and back in Mexico.
