Marina
Rodriguez has some history with Carla
Esparza in the Octagon, but she also has respect for the UFC’s
inaugural strawweight champion.
Rodriguez earned her third consecutive triumph in the
UFC Fight Night 194 main event on Saturday, as she put on a
striking clinic to earn a unanimous decision against grappling ace
Mackenzie
Dern at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The Brazilian muay Thai
specialist is closing in on a title shot, but she believes that
Esparza — the only woman to defeat her in UFC competition — should
have received the next opportunity. Instead it went to Weili
Zhang, who was granted an immediate rematch against Rose
Namajunas at UFC 268.
That said, if the promotion comes calling after UFC 268, Rodriguez
won’t pass up a chance to compete for championship gold.
“I’ll never deny a chance to fight for the title, but for me, Carla
should be next and not Weili,” Rodriguez said at Saturday’s
post-fight press conference. “But since the rematch is booked
already with Rose and that’s happening, then if UFC gives me that
opportunity, without a doubt I’m taking it. Sorry, Carla. I would
prefer for [her] to get the title shot, win the belt and then we
can do the rematch, but it can’t take long. I can’t be
waiting.”
Because of her standup proficiency, Rodriguez has been linked to a
matchup with former 115-pound champ Joanna
Jedrzejczyk, who hasn’t competed since falling to Zhang in an
all-time classic fight at UFC 248 in March 2020. Because of that
layoff, Rodriguez isn’t especially interested in the possibility of
facing the Polish star.
“Sincerely, Joanna doesn’t want to fight me, so I don’t want to
fight her because for me she shouldn’t be in the rankings,”
Rodriguez said. “She doesn’t fight anymore and needs to make space
for the girls that are battling and fighting three times a year to
earn a spot.”
Instead, Rodriguez would prefer another ranked opponent who will
keep her on a championship path.
“It can be the Chinese fighter [Xiaonan
Yan], whoever. I just prefer that it’s someone who’s in font of
me, and then fight for the belt quick.”