NEW YORK – Gregory Rodrigues met the media Wednesday ahead of his fight at UFC 322.
Rodrigues (17-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) takes on Roman Kopylov (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in a fight with potential middleweight fireworks on the preliminary card at Madison Square Garden. At media day, Rodrigues took questions from members of the press corps before his fight.
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The 33-year-old “Robocop” has won four of his past five fights. In June, he rebounded from a knockout loss to Jared Cannonier in his first UFC main event with a first-round bonus-winning KO of Jack Hermansson.
Against Kopylov, he thinks he even might find a way to return to finishing fights on the canvas. He has strong jiu-jitsu accolades, but he hasn’t had to use them in years, at least to win a fight.
“I’m always trying to put my jiu-jitsu on, but the fights never go to that position,” Rodrigues said. “But I’m an MMA fighter. I have everything I need, and for sure I’m going to find the best way to get the victory.”
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Regardless of how he gets it done, Rodrigues likes the state of middleweight in the uFC right now. Could a title shot be far off? He’s hopeful it will come, eventually.
He thinks new champion Khamzat Chimaev likely has Nassourdine Imavov waiting in the wings for a shot at the belt, but likes his own odds down the road.
“The middleweight division – I like it. It’s a good game,” Rodrigues said. “Everyone started playing, and the division started changing. But I think Imavov is next in line to fight for the title. I think he’s earned it, and we’ll see. But one day, I’ll be there, as well.”
Check out Rodrigues’ full media day interview in the video above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Gregory Rodrigues on jiu-jitsu or striking vs. Kopylov at UFC 322?
