“What I’ve learned is that difficulties aren’t there to stop you,” he told Sherdog.com. “They highlight where I should be better, so I can improve and be ready for whatever comes next. Both the bad and the good made me the athlete I am today and how much I’ve achieved. My goal going into the UFC was to have a solid career. I didn’t want to rise too fast, eventually implode and be unable to return.
“I’m in a great phase,” Rodrigues added. “My two losses [in the UFC] taught me a lot. They molded me. Without a doubt, I’m a completely different athlete today. I thank God for my difficulties, as they made me recognize where I need to improve. I never see them as a negative. They make me better with every passing day.”
Duncan poses a serious threat to the Brazilian on paper. The former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder has won three of his four fights since he joined the UFC roster in 2023, a decision defeat to the aforementioned Petrosyan his only misstep. Duncan, 29, last competed at UFC Fight Night 238, where he put away Claudio Ribeiro with a volley of elbows and punches in the second round of their March 2 encounter.
“I see him as yet another opponent,” Rodrigues said. “It’s an important fight, as they all are. I don’t see anything special in him. I’ll steamroll him. Of course, I respect everyone, but in MMA [and] in the UFC, there are levels. He’s not there yet.”
Rodrigues operates out of the star-studded Kill Cliff Fight Club camp fronted by Henri Hooft and Greg Jones in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He enlisted the help of a number of stablemates ahead of his showdown with Duncan, from Gilbert Burns , Ange Loosa and Mohammed Usman to Glory kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov .
“I have the best team in the world, [and] I have the best coaches,” Rodrigues said. “Our energy has been great in a family atmosphere. I can hardly wait for fight night.”
The 32-year-old Rodrigues boasts 13 finishes—10 of them by knockout—among his 15 professional victories and continues to reach for the sky in a middleweight division currently ruled by South African champion Dricus Du Plessis .
“My mind is always on the title,” he said. “I know I’ll be the UFC middleweight champion. After this fight, I’ll want either a title shot or someone who puts me in position for a title fight. I’ll beat whoever I have to [in order] to reach my objective.”
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