They might call him “Lazy Boy” in the UFC, but don’t let the nickname fool you—Ronaldo Rodriguez is anything but. With an impressive record of 17-2-0, this rising star is making waves in the UFC, and he’s just getting started. Beginning his training in 2015, Rodriguez has taken the octagon by storm, fueled by a hunger that goes far beyond personal glory. For Rodriguez, every punch, kick, and takedown is driven by a desire to provide a better life for his biggest inspiration—his mom.

Rodriguez’s journey into combat sports wasn’t just about becoming a fighter. His deep motivation comes from wanting to make his mother proud and give her the life she deserves. And with Jesus Christ and his mom as his heroes, the fighter’s dedication runs deep both in and out of the octagon.

If you’re not already familiar with this powerhouse of a fighter, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. From his ethnic roots to his personal story, here’s everything you need to know about Ronaldo Rodriguez and how he’s fighting his way to the top, fulfilling not only his own dreams but those of his family.

What is Ronaldo Rodríguez’s ethnicity and nationality? About his early life

Born in Chiapas in 1999, he was raised in Veracruz, and ‘Lazy Boy’ who is not so lazy in real life discovered his love for martial arts at a young age. While speaking to Marca.com he spoke about how he found refuge in martial arts. “I started as a child training karate because I had a lot of energy, I fought a lot in school, and from then on I realized that martial arts marked my life and kept me away from vices, and crime,” he said.

At that time, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, where the young fighter spent his young years, was a very volatile environment. There was a lot of organised crime and many of his friends and classmates had ended up in that environment. He found refuge in martial arts which changed his life forever. He arrived in Mexico City at 16 with UFC as the main goal. He’s just 24 years old and already has an amazing record of 17 victories and two losses. Rodriguez has had a pretty challenging life for a 24-year-old and changed the course of his fate by working hard.

‘Lazy Boy’ got his nickname because of the flyweight contender’s grappling technique. His moniker stems from a move on the ground and it’s a ground control position. Interestingly it sounds great in Spanish but not so much English. This man started his life by selling jellies and candy on the street where he learnt the most fundamental lesson of his life: Hard work pays off. He went through immense hardship but showed persistence which brought him into the UFC.

Ronaldo Rodríguez’s journey into the UFC

During the same interview with Marca.com, he expressed the hardships that he had faced at a very young age. “I’ve gone through my father’s abandonment, having to leave my mom, not being able to fulfill my dream before… but that makes me stronger and stronger to give you this victory. I am a very blessed child who feels that I am fulfilling the dream after so many nights of being cold, being hungry. I am going to change the future of my family,” he added.

At just the age of 21 Rodriguez had got his first shot at the Dana White Contender series. He’s full of energy and since he was young and raw, he made a valiant effort against Jerome Rivera. Since then he has learnt a lot and trained harder. However, everything was not smooth sailing because he had spent one year off after the contender series concluded. Sadly this was because of an injury that kept him out of the game for one year.

Following a five-fight undefeated streak on the Mexican regional scene he took one year off before getting his chance at UFC Mexico City. “I was just waiting for this opportunity to come through,” Rodriguez said. “I had run through all the competitors here in Mexico, so I was just waiting for a call.” the fighter said to Cage Side press. He fought at UFC Fight Night and submitted Denys Bondar via rear naked choke. The man who did several odd jobs like being a waiter and working in several workshops, is now a renowned UFC fighter with an amazing record.

He prefers triangle choke and low kick as his Best fighting techniques. The 24-year-old is going to fight against Ode Osborne At the Mega event of UFC 306. Do you think he’s going to achieve another win and make his mother more proud?