Marina Rodriguez: Chasing the Belt, Looking for Payback

Every contender believes they have what it takes to beat the champ, but for Marina Rodriguez, it is a belief grounded in first-hand experience.

Rodriguez is on a four-fight win streak over solid opposition since her first and only career defeat, a split decision loss to then-former strawweight champion Carla Esparza in July of 2020. The close fight against a divisional great was a confidence builder at the time, and only became more so when Esparza won back the belt earlier this year. Esparza’s resurgence parallels Rodriguez’s growth from a promising muay thai prospect to a Top 5 fighter, and now their paths may cross again—if both women can get past the tests in front of them this month. As she prepares to face Amanda Lemos in the main event of UFC Fight Night 214 on Saturday in Las Vegas, the 35-year-old Brazilian talked to Sherdog about her route to title contention, her upcoming opponent and whom she would rather face in the event she earns a title shot this weekend.

“To become the No. 3-ranked strawweight in the UFC wasn’t easy,” Rodriguez said. “I only faced the proven best fighters in the division. I have the one loss on my résumé to Esparza, but I’m sure I’ll get to avenge it. I hope it’s for the belt. It wasn’t perfect, but I’ve had a brilliant trajectory in the UFC. It was very well planned and executed, against the best in the world. Today I have a new challenge in Amanda Lemos. The UFC offered me one more opponent before I could fight for the belt. So, my focus is completely on this fight now. I need to win in any way possible, so I can demand my title shot.”

She may have her eyes on getting even and getting the belt, but that in no way implies that Rodriguez is looking past the dangerous Lemos, who is 6-1 in the UFC since dropping to 115 pounds. “Lemos is a super tough athlete. She’s very strong, both physically and mentally. Though I don’t believe she has yet faced all the toughest girls in our division. When she fought Jessica Andrade, she was submitted. I believe our fight will be electrifying. I’m sure the winner will be whoever is hungriest – whoever wants to have their arm raised more. You can be sure that it will be me. I have a singular objective in the UFC – that is to get to the belt and to become champion. I know it will be a tough fight between us. The fans will be the real winners.”

Rodriguez has prepared for “UFC Vegas 64” in the stable environment of her longtime training home, Thai Brasil. “I’ve been having an excellent training camp. I got started practically right after my last bout. I only had to recover from a few small injuries. All work is done at my academy, Thai Brasil Floripa, under head coach Marcio Malko. My grappling coach is Igor Soares. And I train with the girls from my team, including Daiana Torquato and Andressa Romero. All’s going well. We’re very focused on this next fight and on getting another win.”

The stakes of Saturday’s main event are well known, as the winner of Rodriguez vs. Lemos will likely challenge for the strawweight belt next year. It remains to be seen who will be holding that belt by then, however, as Esparza is set to face former champ Weili Zhang at UFC 271 next weekend in the first defense of her new title reign. Rodriguez wants her shot at the belt above all else, but is willing to admit it would be nice to kill two birds with one stone. “The UFC rescheduled us one week prior to Esparza vs. Zhang. If I beat Lemos, the ideal would be for me to face Esparza. I’ve been saying for a long time that I want to face her again. I want my revenge but also the belt. For that to happen, she needs to keep her belt. Zhang is a difficult fight for Carla. She is very hungry to be champion again. I think that will be her great opportunity. And, of course, by beating Lemos, it won’t matter who’s champion. I just want my shot at it.”

Ahead of the biggest fight of her career, Rodriguez sounds focused, driven, but also at peace. “Outside of training, Marina is someone who enjoys resting at home and eating well, while thinking about the next training session,” she said. “My life when not fighting is also dedicated to fighting. I live it 100 percent. I have to finish out the plan that my master and I have – to become world champion. That will not change until I reach my goal. I’m completely focused on my goal until I reach it.

“All my accomplishments thus far have been the result of hard and honest work. I haven’t slighted anyone along the way. I’m surrounded by good people who mean well for me. This allows me to grow as an athlete and as a person. My team is growing alongside me. Additionally, it was proper planning that has made it possible to get this far. I have full respect for all who understand and enjoy our sport.”