Marina Rodriguez Aims to Reassert Herself Against Gillian Robertson at UFC on ESPN 67
In a crucial bout for her Ultimate Fighting Championship career, Marina Rodriguez is set to face Gillian Robertson in a UFC on ESPN 67 preliminary match at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday. The Thai-Brazilian fighter, currently 38 years old, has faced a challenging period, losing four of her last five fights, including her last two by split decision. A win against Robertson would be a significant step in reasserting her position in the highly competitive women’s strawweight division.
According to Rodriguez, who spoke to Sherdog.com, she has had an impressive run in the UFC thus far, headlining three cards and winning three bonuses. "I’ve faced only the best fighters in the strawweight division," she stated. "I’ve had an excellent run so far in the UFC. I headlined three cards and won three bonuses. Few fighters manage to do this."
Rodriguez was once on the verge of title contention but turned down an opportunity to face Weili Zhang at UFC 275 in 2022 due to insufficient preparation time. Zhang went on to knock out Joanna Jedrzejczyk with a spinning backfist and reclaim the undisputed women’s strawweight championship for a second time. "Like [UFC CEO] Dana White says, timing is everything," Rodriguez noted. "We would only have had 40 days, and there were other reasons, such as my coach getting another athlete ready for a title bout on the same day. The bad timing on that occasion took me out of contention. It was frustrating. It may have influenced some of my later results, but nothing erases what I’ve accomplished."
Gillian Robertson, Rodriguez’s opponent, has been on a three-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Luana Pinheiro by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 247 on November 9. A seasoned Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Robertson has secured nine of her 15 career wins by submission. Rodriguez, however, remains confident in her abilities, stating, "I’ll be ready for her, no matter where we find ourselves. I’m confident we’ll have a great fight. I’m sure she’ll look to use her grappling, starting with her takedowns, but I have a history of fights against other grapplers. I’ve never been submitted."
Rodriguez, aware of the importance of this bout, emphasized her readiness for the challenge. "To get this far took an enormous amount of work," she said. "Nothing has been easy. I’ll fight her at every moment. I got ready to both defend and attack using my jiu-jitsu. She won’t be able to get comfortable the way she did with her other opponents. She’ll see that it won’t be easy. Every round starts on the feet, and if she doesn’t believe in my jiu-jitsu, I’ll make sure to submit her."
As Rodriguez prepares to face Robertson, she is well aware that another misstep could have significant implications for her career. Nevertheless, she remains determined to prove herself in the highly competitive strawweight division. With her extensive experience and confidence in her abilities, Rodriguez is poised to put up a formidable challenge against Robertson at UFC on ESPN 67.
In conclusion, Marina Rodriguez’s upcoming bout against Gillian Robertson at UFC on ESPN 67 is a crucial test for her career. With her impressive record in the UFC and her determination to succeed, Rodriguez is ready to face the challenges posed by Robertson. As Sherdog.com reported, Rodriguez is confident in her abilities and is preparing to put up a strong fight against Robertson. The bout is expected to be a closely contested match, with both fighters vying for a crucial win in the strawweight division.
Source: Sherdog.com
