Marina Rodriguez has decided to retire from mixed martial arts after her recent fight.
Her final bout was against Gillian Robertson at UFC Des Moines on Saturday, where she suffered a second-round TKO defeat.
Both fighters spoke after the bout, and Rodriguez used the opportunity to announce the end of her professional fighting career, which spanned 25 fights.
“This is my last fight because it`s time,” Rodriguez explained. “My heart told me, `Marina, it`s time to do something new for this sport.` So this is my last fight and I want to say thank you so much all MMA fans. You are amazing. Thank you UFC for all the support, thank you boss Dana White. Signing on the Contender Series was the best day of my life.”
The 38-year-old fighter joined the UFC via the Brazilian Dana White`s Contender Series in August 2018. She quickly established herself in the strawweight division, building a 3-0-2 record before a close split decision loss to Carla Esparza. She then embarked on a four-fight winning streak against notable opponents like Amanda Ribas, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Mackenzie Dern, and Yan Xiaonan, positioning herself as a strong title contender, although a championship shot never materialized.
The recent loss marked Rodriguez`s third consecutive defeat and fifth in her last six fights. She concludes her professional career with a record of 17 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws (17-6-2).
For Gillian Robertson, this victory is arguably the most significant of her career. Known for her finishing ability, the Canadian secured her first win against a ranked opponent in Rodriguez. This TKO also brings Robertson level with Amanda Nunes for the most finishes recorded by a female fighter in UFC history.
Robertson, a former flyweight, controlled the fight primarily through grappling, eventually finishing Rodriguez with ground-and-pound strikes at the 2:07 mark of the second round.
Wesley Dunham