Daniel Rodriguez

I mean, I did have a little bit of experience before going into MMA.

Because when I lived in the hood, I would always have boxing gloves.

And I would always make my homies fight each other.

Like, when we're all hanging out, like, hey, you go with him, you go with him.

Because, like, you know, we're all boys.

And I want them to, like, I always wanted them to, like, hey, in case anything happens, in case we're ever all out and we get in a rumble with somebody or anything like that, like, I try to make my homies more tougher.

You know, because, like, hey, you guys got to have my back.

I got yours.

And that's just something we just did, you know?

we'll just go body shots, body punches, you know?

And just fight each other.

So that's kind of my background, bro, to be honest with you.

And yeah, man, I just carried that into the gym.

When I first went, I remember- What was the first gym you went to?

It was called Tap Out in downtown LA.

Okay.

At the time, I think that's, I was training with Eddie Bravo and he had moved in 10th last, so that's when I first, when I first started, I wanted to box.

And I remember when I first started going there, I was working construction.

I was working on a high-rise in downtown L.A.

And I would pass by every day.