In spite of her recent setbacks, Marina Rodriguez is resolute in her pursuit of the UFC strawweight championship. The Brazilian fighter, who has experienced a two-fight losing streak, is determined to make a comeback and secure another shot at the title. Rodriguez (16-3-2 MMA, 6-3-2 UFC) is slated to face former Invicta FC champion Michelle Waterson-Gomez (18-11 MMA, 6-7 UFC) in a highly anticipated rematch on the main card of UFC Fight Night 228, which is set to take place this Saturday.
Rodriguez, now 36 years old, believes that a victory against Waterson-Gomez could propel her back into title contention. Speaking to MMA News7 and other members of the press during Wednesday’s media day, Rodriguez made her intentions clear: “The UFC title never left my head. There’s a reason why I’m here. I’m not here just to fight. I’m not here just for the money. The reason why I continue to do this is to be a champion. That’s why we’re here and that’s why we’re in this fight. We’re here, so we can get talked about again and considered at having a chance at the title.”
Before her recent defeats to Virna Jandiroba and Amanda Lemos, Rodriguez was riding high on a four-fight winning streak and seemed poised for a title shot. Among those victories was her previous win against Waterson-Gomez, which took place in May 2021.
When asked about the upcoming rematch, Rodriguez emphasized the shared determination of both fighters: “The fight is the same in the sense that the two fighters are the same, but different because both really want to win. I think that both are going to need this win right now coming off defeats. The one that has the bigger will to win, the one that wants it more, is going to come out on top with the win.”
