Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Marina Rodriguez is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Marina Rodriguez is a Brazilian strawweight mixed martial artist known for her technical Muay Thai, sharp boxing, and years as a top contender in the UFC women’s strawweight division. She has fought many of the best fighters at 115 lbs and built a solid career and fan following through consistent performances and highlight-reel finishes.
Marina Rodriguez’s Biography
| Aspect | Details |
| Full Name | Marina Alcalde Rodriguez |
| Nickname | N/A |
| Date of Birth | April 29, 1987 |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Birthplace | Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| College | N/A |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Weight | 115 lbs (52 kg) |
| Reach | 65 inches (165 cm) |
| Professional Start | 2015 |
| Net Worth | Approximately $1.5 million |
| Fight Purse | $75,000 – $150,000 per fight |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @marinarodriguezmma |
| Team/Gym | Thai Brasil AS Team, Florianópolis, Brazil |
Early Career
Marina’s path to becoming one of the UFC’s most exciting fighters was unconventional. Initially working as a graphic designer, she grew tired of the sedentary lifestyle and began searching for ways to get physically active. She discovered muay Thai in 2013 under coach Marcio Malko’s guidance and quickly fell in love with combat sports. Within months of starting her striking training, Rodriguez transitioned to amateur mixed martial arts.
Her professional MMA career officially began in 2015, and she immediately made an impact. Before signing with the UFC, Marina amassed an impressive 9-0 record fighting primarily throughout Brazil, establishing herself as a rising prospect in women’s MMA. Her undefeated record caught the attention of Dana White’s organization, and she earned a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 2 in August 2018, defeating Maria de Oliveira Neta via first-round technical knockout.
Professional Career
Marina Rodriguez’s UFC journey spanned nearly seven years from September 2018 to May 2025, during which she competed in 13 fights. She made her UFC debut against Randa Markos, fighting to a majority draw in a closely contested affair at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders. Following her debut, Rodriguez won consecutive fights against Jessica Aguilar and Tecia Torres through unanimous decisions, establishing herself as a credible strawweight contender.
Her career reached its peak between 2021 and 2022 when she achieved four consecutive victories, including one of her most impressive performances against Amanda Ribas at UFC 257 in January 2021, where she earned her first Performance of the Night bonus. She later defeated Michelle Waterson-Gomez (twice), earned a Fight of the Night honor for her war with Mackenzie Dern, and won a split decision against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 272.
However, her trajectory shifted in late 2022 when she suffered a devastating third-round TKO loss to Amanda Lemos. From that point forward, Rodriguez struggled, winning only one fight over her final five bouts. Despite the decline, her legacy remains strong—she fought elite competition regularly and never took easy fights.
Marina Rodriguez’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Marina Rodriguez’s estimated net worth is approximately $1.5 million, with her career earnings totaling around $2 million. These earnings came primarily from UFC fight purses, sponsorship bonuses, and performance bonuses throughout her seven-year tenure with the organization. While she never achieved top-tier heavyweight or title-contender pay rates, her consistent main card and premium card appearances translated into solid cumulative earnings for a mid-tier strawweight fighter.
Fight Purses
| Event | Date | Opponent | Result | Base Purse | Sponsorship Bonus | Performance Bonus | Total |
| UFC 300 | April 13, 2024 | Jessica Andrade | Loss (Split Decision) | $100,000 | $19,000 | None | $119,000 |
| UFC Fight Night 228 | September 23, 2023 | Michelle Waterson-Gomez | Win (TKO R2) | Estimated $50,000 | $11,000 | $50,000 (POTN) | $111,000 |
| UFC 288 | May 6, 2023 | Virna Jandiroba | Loss (Unanimous Decision) | $75,000 | $11,000 | None | $86,000 |
| UFC 272 | March 5, 2022 | Yan Xiaonan | Win (Split Decision) | $25,000 | $6,000 | None | $31,000 |
| UFC on ESPN 24 | May 8, 2021 | Michelle Waterson-Gomez | Win (Unanimous Decision) | Estimated $70,000 | Included | None | $70,000+ |
| UFC 257 | January 24, 2021 | Amanda Ribas | Win (TKO R2) | Estimated $60,000 | Included | $50,000 (POTN) | $110,000+ |
Endorsements
- Shark Pro – A nutritional supplement and fitness product brand with which Rodriguez maintained a long-term partnership, promoting products including protein powders, creatine, and performance supplements (discount codes: MARINA20 and MARINA10)
- UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance Program – Standard UFC fighter compensation providing $4,000 to $12,000 per fight for apparel, media obligations, and conduct requirements
- Venum Fight Kit – UFC’s official fight wear and equipment provider, providing standard compensation included in fight purses
While Rodriguez’s sponsorship portfolio was modest compared to mainstream celebrities or top-tier UFC stars, her consistent presence on UFC cards ensured steady supplementary income beyond her base fight purses.
Career Records
| Notable Opponents | Result | Method | Event Date | Notes |
| Amanda Ribas | Win | TKO (R2 Elbows & Punches) | Jan 24, 2021 | Performance of the Night bonus |
| Mackenzie Dern | Win | Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) | Oct 9, 2021 | Fight of the Night bonus |
| Yan Xiaonan | Win | Split Decision | Mar 5, 2022 | Competitive matchup |
| Michelle Waterson-Gomez (1st) | Win | Unanimous Decision | May 8, 2021 | 5-round main event |
| Michelle Waterson-Gomez (2nd) | Win | TKO (R2 Elbows & Punches) | Sept 23, 2023 | Performance of the Night bonus |
| Carla Esparza | Loss | Split Decision | Jul 26, 2020 | Former UFC champion (controversial decision) |
| Jessica Andrade | Loss | Split Decision | Apr 13, 2024 | Former UFC strawweight champion |
| Amanda Lemos | Loss | TKO (R3 Punches) | Nov 5, 2022 | Major upset loss |
| Virna Jandiroba | Loss | Unanimous Decision | May 6, 2023 | Dropped in rankings after loss |
| Gillian Robertson | Loss | TKO (R2 Punches) | May 3, 2025 | Final fight; announced retirement |
FAQs
1. What is Marina Rodriguez’s fighting style?
Marina Rodriguez is primarily a striker with a strong muay Thai background. Her fighting style centers around footwork, accurate punching combinations, and powerful kicks developed through years of muay Thai training in Brazil. She holds a dark blue with black tip belt in muay Thai and was a national IFMA champion. While she has Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills (purple belt), her offensive game relies heavily on her striking explosiveness rather than grappling.
2. How much has Marina Rodriguez earned throughout her UFC career?
Marina Rodriguez’s total career earnings are estimated at approximately $2 million, with the majority coming from UFC fight purses ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 per event. Her highest-earning fights typically came from main card appearances and performance bonuses. In 2024 alone, she earned approximately $150,000 per fight on average when accounting for base purses, sponsorship bonuses, and occasional performance bonuses.
3. Did Marina Rodriguez ever compete for a UFC title?
No, Marina Rodriguez never competed for a UFC strawweight title during her career, though she was ranked as high as #4 in the division at certain points. She came closest to a title shot during 2021-2022 when she won four consecutive fights, but never received a title opportunity. She did face multiple former and elite champions including Carla Esparza, Jessica Andrade, and Mackenzie Dern throughout her UFC tenure.
4. What is Marina Rodriguez’s record against ranked opponents?
Marina Rodriguez compiled a respectable record against top-ranked competition. Her notable victories include unanimous decision wins over Mackenzie Dern (ranked #4) and Yan Xiaonan, plus a dominant TKO of Amanda Ribas. She also faced Carla Esparza (former champion) in a closely contested split decision loss and Jessica Andrade (former champion) in another split decision loss, indicating she competed at an elite level throughout her career.
5. What are Marina Rodriguez’s most memorable fights?
Her most memorable performances include the Fight of the Night award-winning bout against Mackenzie Dern (a five-round striking clinic), the Performance of the Night TKO victory against Amanda Ribas at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi, and her split decision victory over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 272 in Las Vegas. These fights showcased her striking prowess and earned her additional compensation beyond standard fight purses.
6. Why did Marina Rodriguez retire?
Marina Rodriguez announced her retirement immediately after her TKO loss to Gillian Robertson at UFC on ESPN 67 in May 2025. At 38 years old and struggling with a three-fight losing streak, she determined that continuing her fighting career was no longer beneficial. She mentioned plans to transition into coaching and continue her involvement with MMA through training and mentorship rather than competing.
7. What is Marina Rodriguez’s training like?
Marina Rodriguez maintained an intense daily training regimen consisting of approximately two hours of MMA-specific training in the morning, one hour of strength and conditioning, and 1.5 hours of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training in the evening. She trained primarily at Thai Brasil gym in Florianópolis, Brazil, under coaches Marcio Malko (muay Thai specialist) and Alexandre de Souza (jiu-jitsu specialist).
8. Which fighters did Marina Rodriguez defeat in the UFC?
Marina Rodriguez achieved seven UFC victories against fighters including Amanda Ribas (TKO), Mackenzie Dern (unanimous decision), Michelle Waterson-Gomez (twice), Yan Xiaonan (split decision), Jessica Aguilar (unanimous decision), and Tecia Torres (unanimous decision). Her wins primarily came through dominant striking performances or second-round finishes.
9. Has Marina Rodriguez won any performance bonuses?
Yes, Marina Rodriguez earned three significant UFC performance bonuses totaling $150,000: two Performance of the Night bonuses (vs. Amanda Ribas at UFC 257 and vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez at UFC Fight Night 228) and one Fight of the Night bonus (vs. Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night 194), demonstrating that her fights consistently delivered entertaining performances.
10. What are Marina Rodriguez’s future plans after retirement?
Following her retirement announcement, Marina Rodriguez expressed interest in transitioning to coaching and gym promotion. She mentioned plans to sell her competition gloves at auction to raise funds for her gym in Florianópolis, where she aims to continue developing young Brazilian fighters and sharing her extensive striking knowledge with the next generation of mixed martial artists.