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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Danny Segura

Christian Rodriguez feeling blessed for chance to fight in parents’ home country at UFC Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Christian Rodriguez met the media Wednesday ahead of his fight at UFC on ESPN 64.

Rodriguez (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) takes on Melquizael Costa (22-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC) on the preliminary card at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. At the event’s media day, Rodriguez took questions from media members before his fight – which comes in his parents’ home country.

“It’s been really surreal. This is obviously a big opportunity for me. Fighting twice in three months is also a big opportunity for me,” Rodriguez told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day. “This means everything to me. My parents came from Mexico and came to the States with nothing at 13, 14. This is my time to represent them.

“I’ve been trying to get on this card since January ever since my win over Austin Bashi. I went on the mic and said I’m trying to fight here in Mexico. It went kind of quiet for a bit. They offered me an opponent and it didn’t go through. I thought, ‘Damn, it isn’t happening because it’s in five weeks.’ But two days later, I got Costa – so I’m blessed.”

Check out Rodriguez’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.

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