Rodriguez was a wrestler in high school. He qualified for the NJSIAA championships as a senior but did not place.[7]
Collegiate career
After high school, Rodriguez attended Ferrum College, that has an NCAA Division III wrestling program. In between his last match as a high school wrestler and his first match as a collegiate wrestler, he gained 50 pounds, going from 170 to 220 pounds. Rodriguez attended college for one year, during which he placed fourth at the East Regionals and had a record of 23 wins and 4 losses.[8] After college, he decided to pursue a modeling career with Wilhelmina Models.[9]
In 2018, Rodriguez was persuaded by a friend to attend his first jiu-jitsu class to stay fit. After two weeks of training, he attended his first submission wrestling competition[6] and went on to win the advanced 230 pounds and absolute brackets.[12][13] A few months later, he moved to Renzo Gracie Academy with coach John Danaher, who awarded him his blue belt later on.
After a failed attempt to qualify for the ADCCs, Rodriguez competed at the IBJJF World Championship in the blue belt division. He defeated all three of his opponents to win the championship.[14]
He competed against Duarte in a rematch at Fight 2 Win, which he lost.[20] He also competed at the BJJ Fanatics Grand Prix.[21]
2020
After his bronze medal finish at the KASAI Pro 7,[22] Rodriguez was scheduled to face 2019 US World Team Member Pat Downey at Third Coast Grappling IV in a special ruleset match on March 14.[23] However, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]
He then competed at Third Coast Grappling: Kumite IV on July 11. He was eliminated in the first round.[25]
In December, 2020, Rodriguez moved to Puerto Rico with the rest of his teammates to continue training under John Danaher.[26]
2021
Rodriguez competed against Yuri Simões in the co-main event of Who's Number One on March 26, 2021.[27] Rodriguez won the match by decision.[28] He was then invited to compete in an absolute grand prix at Third Coast Grappling 6 on April 3, 2021.[29] Rodriguez defeated Pedro Marinho by decision in the opening round before losing a decision to Victor Hugo in the semi-final.[30]
In July, news broke that the Danaher Death Squad were splitting up.[31] Rodriguez elected to continue training with Craig Jones, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Ryan.[32] The four grapplers opened up a new gym in Austin, Texas under the name B Team Jiu Jitsu in August, 2021.[33] Shortly afterward, Rodriguez was invited to compete at the 2022 ADCC World Championship.[34]
On December 30, 2021, Rodriguez competed against UFC veteran Steve Mowry at Fury Pro Grappling 3 and submitted him with a rear-naked choke at 5:30.[35]
2022
Rodriguez faced Elder Cruz at Who's Number One: Jones v Marinho on January 21, 2022, and lost the match by split decision.[36] Shortly after this, Rodriguez was promoted to brown belt in BJJ.[37] Rodriguez competed in the over 99 kg division of ADCC 2022, defeating Damon Ramos on points and submitting John Hansen with a rear-naked choke on the first day. On the second day he defeated Felipe Pena on points in the semi-final, but was submitted by Gordon Ryan in the final and came away with a silver medal.[38]
He was then invited to compete at EBI 20: The Absolutes on October 23, 2021.[39] Rodriguez won the tournament by defeating Ezeqiual Zurita, Luke Griffith, Austin Baker, and Kyle Boehm in one night.[40] On December 15, 2022, Rodriguez was scheduled to compete in another absolute tournament at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3.[41] However, Vinny Magalhães withdrew from the main event match against Gordon Ryan and Rodriguez agreed to step in to replace him instead.[42] Neither man could finish the fight in regulation time and the match went to EBI overtime, where Gordon Ryan won by fastest escape time.[43] Ryan would accuse Rodriguez of 'greasing' during their match. Rodriguez denied that accusation on an episode Mark Bell's Power Project Podcast in February 2023.[44]
2023
Rodriguez stepped in on two days' notice to replace Gordon Ryan against Felipe Pena in the main event of Who's Number One on February 25, 2023.[45] He lost the match by unanimous decision.[46] Rodriguez was then invited to compete in an openweight tournament at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4 on June 29, 2023.[47] He defeated Roberto Jimenez, Vagner Rocha, and Dan Manasoiu to win the tournament.[48]
Rodriguez then competed at Quintet 4 on September 10, 2023 as part of The B-Team Bulls.[49] Rodriguez drew both of his matches but his team won the tournament.[50] Rodriguez was scheduled to compete against 3 competitors: Jake Lowry, Cody Gamble, and Zack Humbertson, in a series of matches at Sprawl in the Burgh 2 on October 20, 2023.[51] He won all three. Rodriguez then competed against Yuri Simões at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 5 on December 10, 2023.[52] He won the match on points.[53]
2024
Rodriguez competed against Victor Hugo in the main event of Who's Number One 22 on February 9, 2024.[54] He lost the match by decision.[55]
Rodriguez competed against Roberto Jimenez in the co-main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 on March 3, 2024.[56] He won the match on points.[57]
Rodriguez competed against Mason Fowler in the main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 on May 15, 2024.[58] He won the match on points.[59]
Rodriguez was invited to compete in the over 99 kg division of the 2024 ADCC World Championship on August 17–18, 2024.[60] However, he later withdrew from the event in order to compete in the over 80 kg division of the Craig Jones Invitational on August 16–17, 2024 instead.[61] Rodriguez submitted Max Gimenis, Owen Livesey, Adam Bradley, and Fellipe Andrew to win the tournament.[62]
Rodriguez faced Michael Pixley on October 10, 2024 in the main event of the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 8.[63] He won the match by submission.[64]
Professional wrestling career
On April 24, 2023, Rodriguez revealed that he had attended tryouts for WWE, an American professional wrestling promotion. While it was initially reported that he been accepted to the promotion along with several other athletes who attended the tryouts,[65] WWE ultimately passed on signing Rodriguez.
Personal life
Rodriguez's younger brother Jacob, known as Jay or J-Rod, is a B Team Jiu Jitsu competitor.[66] A former two-time state and regional champion in wrestling, he won the 2022 ADCC North American West Coast Trials in the -88 kg division.[67][68]
