When Cory Sandhagen protégé Elias Rodriguez steps right into a cage, calm isn’t an act — it’s coaching. The 24-year-old from Excessive Altitude MMA is a component technician, half thinker, and absolutely human about what it takes to develop within the struggle sport. Coming off a first-round knockout at LFA 219, Elias Rodriguez earned Efficiency of the Night time honors and introduced himself as probably the most intriguing new prospects to emerge from Sandhagen’s Excessive Altitude MMA pipeline.
What follows is a portrait of a younger fighter in Elias Rodriguez studying to steadiness concern, religion, with out forgetting the fundamentals — and why being scared doesn’t make you weak. It simply means you’re alive.
Elias Rodriguez: “Typically you’re simply going to be scared, so it’s important to be courageous.”
Stroll me by means of the primary minute of that struggle. What had been you studying from Booker earlier than that left hook landed?I don’t actually keep in mind a lot of my fights however I actually thought I used to be going to submit him once I obtained that choke; not getting it stunned me. I’m very glad I didn’t burn my arms out and determined to return to the toes. Cory referred to as a jab to the physique, overhand proper earlier than the KO — you’ll be able to hear it on the video, it’s fairly cool.
When the ref waved it off and the gang erupted, what hit you first — aid, validation, or one thing else totally?I used to be simply glad that I gained, that my profession is getting began robust.
Elias Rodriguez: The Sandhagen Affect
You’ve been with Cory because you had been 14. What’s one lesson or mindset shift he gave you early on that’s nonetheless a part of the way you struggle in the present day?That it’s important to be okay with being a human being on the finish of the day. You’re going to really feel scared or nervous or prideful or excited, and people are all regular human feelings. Be okay with feeling these issues and work out why you’re feeling one thing and what to do about it. And generally you’re simply going to be scared, so it’s important to be courageous — which sounds tremendous cliché, nevertheless it’s the reality.
You’ve additionally filmed Cory’s camps. How does being behind the digital camera change the best way you see combating — the patterns, the tempo, the storytelling of it?It will get damaged down into bite-sized chunks when Cory explains it, which is absolutely cool. It helps me perceive one thing higher, and seeing the method of an elite athlete like Cory undergo life is absolutely inspiring. Combating is a loopy however lovely sport.
Elias Rodriguez: Excessive Altitude DNA
In your eyes, what defines “Excessive Altitude placing,” and the way did that DNA present up in your end at LFA 219?Good place, footwork (kinda is a part of good place), and area. That’s what I attempt to train at Excessive Altitude and it is extremely necessary in placing. It’s best to at all times really feel you’ve a solution to one thing offensively or defensively. I obtained slightly sloppy at occasions, I’ll admit, however I feel I did an honest job staying in place — particularly proper earlier than the end. That’s the explanation I completed him.
Each fighter has that hidden second nobody sees — what was the toughest a part of this camp, bodily or mentally?Simply dwelling life and combating is tough generally. Working, relationships, obligations — it’s tough at occasions making an attempt to juggle every thing directly, even when every thing goes good in life. Nonetheless, God has gifted us that within the human expertise. It makes us really feel human. So loving the journey and stress of all of it, and understanding not every thing will go your approach (occupational hazard of life), is essential. Simply don’t take every thing so critically. First-world issues.
Elias Rodriguez: Proudly owning His Personal Title
The “Sandhagen protégé” label follows you all over the place. How do you steadiness honoring that connection whereas carving out your individual identification?I do know it should comply with me — that’s fantastic. I’ve a job to do nonetheless, and simply because I’m his protégé doesn’t imply I don’t must work as onerous. I’ll simply do what I do and take a look at as onerous as I can. On the finish of the day, we’re totally different folks on the identical practice. Turning into an elite fighter is how I plan to honor the connection. There are worse issues to have.
What did successful Efficiency of the Night time change for you — not simply within the pockets, however in your confidence and momentum?I used to be telling everybody that I’d get one other end and efficiency bonus, and I prefer to be a person of my phrase, so I’m glad I succeeded in getting each.
When you may select your subsequent check proper now, what sort of opponent or problem would convey out one of the best model of you?One which waves a pizza in entrance of my face the entire time… On an actual observe, proper now I feel I can take any type. I get rounds within the fitness center with each kind of fashion there’s, so I can take the warmth.
Elias Rodriguez Fills within the Blanks
“Colorado made me ___hate snow.Excessive Altitude taught me ___ energy is gained by means of wrestle.Cory expects me____ to work onerous.”
Elias Rodriguez’s measured confidence matches the mildew of a Excessive Altitude fighter — cerebral, disciplined, and quietly harmful. Count on to see him again beneath the LFA lights quickly, constructing towards the UFC name that feels inevitable.
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