Daniel Rodriguez recounts time in Mexican jail: 'It’s the worst possible situation'

Daniel Rodriguez is ready to resume his career after spending eight months in Mexican jail. | Getty/UFC

UFC welterweight Daniel Rodriguez paid dearly for attempting to take marijuana into Mexico.

Shortly after defeating Kevin Holland at UFC 318 last July, Rodriguez planned a vacation to Rosarito, Mexico, to celebrate his victory. However, “D-Rod” was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border for possession of weed, and he ended up spending the past eight months in Mexican prison. The 39-year-old Californian was finally released last week. During an appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show,” Rodriguez detailed his experience.

“This is my first time in Mexican jail and I can tell you one thing for sure, it’s the worst possible situation,” Rodriguez said. “Fortunately, I was able to make the best of it. I was able to pull a couple of strings and get a little bit of workout equipment there and I was able to work out and try and stay in shape, but it’s not the same. We only went to yard twice a week and those days were the only days I would get to run. I spent the whole time running, I probably looked like a crazy ass dude out there just running laps and laps and laps and laps, but it was only twice a week.

“I think the worst part about the whole thing was the food. I felt a little bit unhealthy, a little malnourished. I think that was the toughest part, is the nutrition. I was coming off that big fight and my body was healthy and the best shape ever, and then to be thrown and locked in a jail cell and just put in one spot and just getting the bare minimum food to eat, it was terrible.”

Of course, Rodriguez didn’t expect to be behind bars for as long as he was.

"The whole judicial system in Mexico is a different world," Rodriguez said. "They didn't have a sense of urgency to move my case forward. It took so long, man. There were so many ups and downs. I went to a few court days. I thought I was getting out, and I didn't end up getting out. Honestly, I was looking at probably getting out until late June or July. Luckily, I got an amazing legal team, and we were able to work some things out, but there's a whole bunch of requirements and stuff behind it I have to stick to.”

Rodriguez revealed that he had “friends in high places” and didn’t encounter any serious trouble while doing time. It didn’t hurt that he was recognized for his exploits in the UFC. Still, even with favored status, the experience was different than spending time in jail in the U.S.

VIP Status?

“My first court date, one of the guards recognized me and started asking me for pictures,” Rodriguez said. “I’m like, ‘What the hell?’ So all the guards are right there taking pictures. Some of the inmates saw that and one inmate asked, ‘What’s up with you?’ and this and that. I didn’t really want to say anything. In a situation like that, you want to keep the lowest profile, because me being who I am, it’s kind of like a target on my back. People are going to want to test you, you never know. So I was just wanting to keep a low profile.

“…Over there it’s not like out here. I’ve been in jail over here where there’s like the L.A. county jail, where it’s not ‘prison’ prison. But over there, they throw you straight in, it’s straight into prison and my first, like, 12 days there I was in a six-man cell with, like, 25 people in there. Dudes sleeping on the floor, two men per bunk, and I couldn’t even sleep. It was just disgusting in there, it’s horrible. The most horrible situation you can think of. Fortunately, word got around that I was in there and I got shot up to the VIP section, so I was fortunate enough to get some love. Yeah, they did show me a lot of love, in the back of my mind I kind of had a sense like, I think this guy’s using me as protection. I’m kind of like his bodyguard or some shit, but I just ran with it.”

Rodriguez will return to the UFC with a three-fight winning streak that includes victories over Holland, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Alex Morono. Now that he’s a free man again, Rodriguez wants to keep the momentum going.

"I really want to shoot for the stars, man," Rodriguez said. "I want to take this to the highest level possible, and I'm looking at a possible matchup with Leon Edwards. I think ideally in a solid three months I'll be ready.”