WHITEMAN, Australia – Kleydson Rodrigues’s first UFC win was impressive, but it did come with some baggage.
The Brazilian flyweight prospect put away Shannon Ross in just 59 seconds on the preliminary card of UFC 284. Rodrigues (8-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) hurt Ross (13-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) to the body and then swarmed him with punches to get the TKO win. Although it was a great finish, Rodrigues did miss weight for the bout, coming in a pound over the non-title fight flyweight limit on Friday morning.
“I believe it was due to the very long trip,” Rodrigues told MMA Junkie regarding his weight miss through an interpreter. “I want to apologize about that. I never miss weight. I’m a guy who’s always on weight. That’s the first battle before fighting.
“My weight just got stalled. It got stalled, and I couldn’t get down anymore. It was that. I’m not focused on my next fight, and I want to apologize to Ross for the weight issue. I promise when I fight again I’ll make the weight, win a quick fight, and put on a show for you guys.”
With the logistic issues that brought the long travel to the land down under aside, Rodrigues loved fighting in Australia. He felt the warmth of the fans even though he was fighting a local fighter.
“I feel great following the impressive victory over the Australian, because the one that fights outside of home knows that it’s an added pressure,” Rodrigues said. “But thank God I felt very good here, very relaxed. It took the pressure off me. Everything was where it needed to be, and I got the knockout in the first round, 59 seconds in. Thank you to everyone in Australia.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
