UFC's Daniel Rodriguez Released from Prison, Faces Edwards at UFC 329

UFC welterweight Daniel Rodriguez was released last week after serving eight months in a Tijuana, Mexico, prison for marijuana possession, and he quickly announced his return to the octagon with a high-profile matchup against former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, during International Fight Week.

Rodriguez, 39, detailed the incident that led to his arrest during interviews with media outlets following his release. The trouble began shortly after his victory over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 in July 2025, when he decided to celebrate with a trip to Rosarito, Mexico. Crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, he was stopped by Mexican officials who discovered 27 grams of marijuana in his vehicle, an amount just under an ounce. "I forgot I had a little bag of weed with me," Rodriguez said. "It was under an ounce. I got pulled over at the line and got checked."

Authorities initially pursued smuggling charges, a felony under Mexican law, despite the small quantity intended for personal use. Rodriguez expected a brief detention, perhaps a weekend, but the country's judicial system proved far slower. "The whole judicial system in Mexico is a different world," he explained. "They...