UFC star shares why cartel members looked out for him while he was in a Mexican prison
UFC star Daniel Rodriguez recently shared why he was protected by cartel members during his time in a Mexican prison, just weeks after he was released. Fans know him as D-Rod, and many noticed he went quiet after his last fight against Kevin Holland at UFC 318 in July 2025.
After being silent for over eight months, the 39-year-old from California finally posted a short video on Instagram with the caption “Release day.” This was surprising since he’s currently on a three-fight winning streak, having beaten Alex Morono, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Holland between October 2024 and July 2025.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani earlier this week, Daniel explained that he went on vacation in Mexico and accidentally brought a small amount of cannabis with him. “It was under an ounce, and I got stopped at the border. The patrol were really strict about the weed,” he said.
On Sunday (April 19), he opened up about what it was like in the Mexican prison. He told TMZ that he was protected by high-ranking cartel members, which helped him stay safe. “I’ve been in jail before, but this was a whole different level,” he said. “You can imagine jail, then imagine jail in Mexico.”
Rodriguez said his UFC reputation earned him respect inside the prison. “I got a lot of love in there, but it’s still jail, and it’s Mexico,” he shared. “It was a wild experience, but luckily nothing bad happened. I was around the right people, so no one bothered me, and I didn’t have to fight anyone.”
He also revealed he’s already been offered a comeback fight against former welterweight champ Leon Edwards in July. “I got a great offer, and you’ll probably see me fight Leon Edwards during International Fight Week in July,” he said excitedly. “I thought it over, and I’m accepting the fight. Let’s go!”
International Fight Week is set for July 9 to 12.