With that in mind, Rodrigues expects his opponent to bring the fight to him. Ferreira, who stands at a stout 5-foot-10, will have to navigate Rodrigues’ longer limbs and bigger frame to get into the pocket.
That, plus the general mixture of nerves that come with one’s UFC debut, make for a lightning-in-a-bottle recipe for excitement. Although Ferreira, like Rodrigues, is a Contender Series alumnus, the bright lights on a pay-per-view show are different, and it’s something Rodrigues anticipates drinking in should he get his hand raised once again.
“When I’m done, I’ll look to the crowd, cheer and celebrate,” Rodrigues said. “Until then, I have a mission. That’s my goal. I have a target, and I’m going to finish the fight, and in case I get the win, it’ll be five wins in six fights and three wins in a row to start the year. Throughout my whole career, since my first UFC fight, I’ve always aimed at the top. I want to get to the top. I want to face a ranked guy. My goal will always be the belt, and whoever gets me closer to that, that’s the fight I want.”
