Burgeoning flyweight prospect Imanol Rodriguez makes his UFC debut in front of his home country, taking on Peru’s Kevin Borjas at UFC Mexico.
Rodriguez (6–1, 0–0 UFC) punched his ticket to the big stage with a first-round knockout of Roque Conceicao on Dana White’s Contender Series in October. Borjas (10–4, 1–3 UFC) has struggled inside the Octagon and will attempt to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Sumudaerji last August.
Rodriguez enters as a hefty -455 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Borjas sits as a +350 underdog. The total is set at 1.5 rounds.
Rodriguez vs. Borjas Preview
Imanol Rodriguez
Imanol Rodriguez arrives in the UFC with quite the reputation — and, with it, lofty expectations. The 26-year-old boxer from Ensenada, Mexico, owns a 6–1 professional record with five knockouts and one submission.
“Himan” rose to popularity on TUF 33 under coach Daniel Cormier, despite falling in the semifinals via split decision to eventual winner and current No. 15-ranked flyweight Joseph Morales. Undeterred, Rodriguez pressed forward and found another way to earn a UFC contract: he scored a first-round knockout against Roque Conceicao on Dana White’s Contender Series in October.
Rodriguez splits time training at Sanchez Boxing MMA in Santa Ana, California, and Cormier’s wrestling academy in Gilroy. He’ll be looking to put his dynamic skillset on full display in his UFC debut.
Kevin Borjas
Kevin Borjas’ UFC tenure has not gotten off to a flying start. He arrived at MMA’s flagship promotion boasting a 9–1 record and 89% finish rate — but has since dropped three of four bouts without a single stoppage. He’s coming off a deflating unanimous decision loss to Sumudaerji last August.
Still, the 28-year-old from Lima, Peru, remains an aggressive striker and opportunistic grappler. Eight of his 10 wins have come by knockout, including five first-round finishes. Plus, he’s no stranger to playing spoiler in Mexico City: his lone UFC win came via unanimous decision against Mexico’s Ronaldo Rodriguez last March.
However, “El Gallo Negro” tends to absorb more damage than he doles out, and he got outstruck 91 to 23 in his latest loss to Sumudaerji. Having already been finished inside the UFC — he got chopped down by leg kicks against Alessandro Costa in May 2024 — Borjas will have to be on his A-game against the emerging stoppage artist.
Rodriguez vs. Borjas Pick, Best Bet
Saturday night presents Rodriguez with a golden opportunity to make a statement in his UFC debut, fighting in his home country against a struggling opponent who leaves his chin exposed. Count on the Cormier-backed “Himan” to replicate his past success and win by knockout.
