Who is Ronaldo Rodriguez? Exploring 'Lazy Boy's' fighter record, coaching staff, relationship status, and more ahead of Noche UFC 306
Ronaldo Rodriguez is scheduled to make his much-awaited return to the octagon this weekend. 'Lazy Boy' made his promotional debut at the UFC Mexico event in February of this year. He impressively defeated Denys Bondar via second-round submission in a flyweight bout, notching his sixth consecutive MMA victory.
Rodriguez fights Jamaica's Ode Osbourne next. As indicated by the latest listings on the UFC's official website, their flyweight showdown is expected to serve as the opening match of Noche UFC 306. The event will transpire at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday, Sept. 14.
Who is Ronaldo Rodriguez?
Ronaldo Rodriguez was born in May 1999 in Chiapas, Mexico. Known for his friendliness and vibrant personality, he's an incredibly skilled MMA combatant. As indicated by his official UFC profile, he's amassed a professional MMA record of 17-2.
Rodriguez made his pro MMA debut at bantamweight in May 2017. He suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Jerome Rivera on Dana White's Contender Series in Aug. 2020. 'Lazy Boy' hasn't lost since, worked his way to the UFC, and is currently a part of the promotion's flyweight division.
Speaking to MMA Junkie earlier this year, Ronaldo Rodriguez suggested that his nickname, 'Lazy Boy', implies a ground control position. He believes it sounds good in Spanish but isn't sure about its impact in English. Rodriguez is a proud representative of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, as referenced by the UFC broadcast team after his promotional debut.
Speaking to Marca earlier this year, the Chiapas-born, Veracruz-raised Rodriguez recounted taking karate up as a child. He credits martial arts for saving him from vices and a life of crime in Coatzacoalcos back in the day.
Harking back to his father abandoning their family, he underlined his love for his mother. He sold candy and jellies on the streets as a youngster, learning the significance of hard work, before eventually moving to Mexico City as a 16-year-old. Rodriguez had to leave his mother and other loved ones to pursue MMA glory and provide for them.
Vowing to continue serving his family, the devout Christian asserted:
"I am going to change the future of my family."
Ronaldo Rodriguez has long been affiliated with the ADAM Coatzacoalcos gym in Coatzacoalcos, notably appearing for the gym's seminars as well. He's trained at various gyms, extensively honing his skills at the world-renowned Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.
Akin to a prominent compatriot, UFC lightweight Daniel Zellhuber, Rodriguez trained with boxing coach Jorge Capetillo. Rodriguez has also long trained under the guidance of Miguel Gonzalez. They notably reminisced about their work together since 2020 as seen in the post below.
In a recent Instagram post with UFC personality Nina-Marie Daniele, Ronaldo Rodriguez reiterated his love for his partner Nina Medina. The Mexico-based Medina and Rodriguez often post content featuring each other on their respective social media handles.
In a July 2024 Instagram post, Medina referred to Rodriguez as the father of her child. She also lightheartedly suggested that 'Lazy Boy' can look at the birthday cake but not eat it, alluding to his weight-cutting obligations as a rising UFC flyweight. An excerpt from her post read:
"Repeat of birthdays 2 with dad."