Although the Brazilian came up short in his attempt to earn a contract through the annual talent search competition in the fall of 2020, his appearance put him on the UFC radar, and when the Sanford MMA representative earned consecutive stoppage victories in his next two fights, he earned a call to the Octagon.
And “Robocop” has continued to lay down the law since matriculating to the biggest stage in the sport.
After earning a unanimous decision win over Dusko Todorovic in his promotional debut last spring, the 30-year-old returned to action in late October, securing a second-round stoppage victory over Junyong Park in an electric back-and-forth battle where his toughness and durability were on display as much as his already established power.
“He’s a good, tough, well-rounded opponent,” Petrosyan said of Rodrigues, who carries an 11-3 record and four-fight winning streak into their contest this weekend in Las Vegas. “I’m ready for his striking and wrestling.
Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs Green
“I see no problem in going the distance, but I will be ready to finish the fight,” he added. “I expect a knockout win.”
Making good on that forecast would catapult Petrosyan into the middle of the pack in the middleweight division, which has been front and center for the month of February and feels as wide open right now as it has in quite some time.
“This year, I plan to have three or four fights,” said Petrosyan, offering a glimpse at what he has penciled into his planner for 2022.
Halting Rodrigues’ run and impressing in his debut would certainly open those doors the newcomer was speaking of earlier and put Petrosyan in a position to continue maximizing his opportunities inside the Octagon.
Now all that remains is the fight itself.
Don’t miss a single round of UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs Green, live from the UFC APEX on Saturday, February 26 on ESPN+. Prelims begin at 4pm ET/1pm PT. Main card begins at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
