“Everybody has their rollercoaster in this game,” begins Daniel Rodriguez, posted up in his hotel room in Des Moines, Iowa, just a handful of days ahead of his clash with Santiago Ponzinibbio at Wells Fargo Arena.
A truer statement has not been made by someone more qualified to speak on the ups and downs of life than the 38-year-old Los Angeles native, who grew up surrounded by and immersed in gang life prior to finding an escape through mixed martial arts. The tough Angelino amassed an 8-1 record on the regional circuit and earned an opportunity to compete on Season 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series.