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Daniel Rodriguez says he’s the most important stoner within the UFC: “I in all probability show that I smoke weed greater than every other fucking UFC fighter on the market,” he informed me throughout a cellphone name whereas in the midst of rolling up a joint. 

The blended martial artist is a loud and proud pothead, and fortunately that gels with the UFC. Final 12 months, the group enacted a coverage change and can now not contemplate a optimistic drug take a look at for weed a violation of its anti-doping coverage. 

This couldn’t be higher information for D-Rod, who makes use of the plant to assist him keep targeted (and entertained) whereas coaching nonstop. And the person will get outcomes: After a 7-0 file as a Welterweight within the beginner leagues, an 8-1 file in Dana White’s Contender Sequence, he stepped as much as the massive leagues in 2020 with a UFC win, incomes him the Efficiency of the Night time award. 

“All these fools within the UFC are getting beat up by a straight-up stoner,” says Rodriguez. 

D-Rod says he desires to “shine a light-weight on the concept athletes will be profitable and smoke weed,” and he’s pushing that message by partnering with California’s Tradecraft Farms as a model ambassador. (FYI: Tradecraft Farms, which was based by Brent Walker and Barry Walker, is a multi-state operator with full vertical ops in California and Oklahoma, in addition to an upcoming web site in Maine the place UFC and MMA have big followings.)

“The partnership with D-Rod has been natural since we met,” wrote Shadow Becker from Tradecraft. “We rapidly realized he was elevating his craft past the norm which is what we love to do with our cultivation and types. The pairing was excellent and collectively we’ll proceed to push the collaboration between hashish and Combined Martial Arts. Keep tuned, the most effective is but to come back!” 

However first, get to know D-Rod just a little. In a really mellow interview, the fighter brings us by way of his weed-laced coaching routine and talks about being stoned throughout his most up-to-date UFC match. “It’s just like the film How Excessive; if I practice excessive, then I ought to struggle excessive.” He additionally gives some alternative West Coast hip-hop recs and explains why he desires to “smoke a joint with the entire world.” 

What’s your present favourite pressure and the way do you wish to eat it?

Daniel Rodriguez: First off, I gotta say I in all probability show that I smoke weed greater than every other fucking UFC fighter on the market. Most individuals are discrete, however I put myself on the market with my weed use. Shit, I’m going to roll a joint as we’re speaking. I’m going to get into the zone, bro.

For my favourite pressure, I’d say Gelato, I like that. I like just about something that doesn’t get me slumped. That stated, most weed doesn’t get me slumped. Lots of people inform me that weed knocks them out, or they’ll ask, “How do you smoke weed and nonetheless work out?” And I’m like, “I don’t understand how you smoke weed and not work out.” It’s a psychological factor for me. I’m so targeted on attempting to be my greatest that it consumes my thoughts, whether or not I’m excessive or not. I feel smoking weed enhances my need to work. It takes my thoughts off the ache and will get me in my zone. It’s all psychological.

I’m simply always fascinated by attempting to develop and get higher as a fighter, so smoking weed simply enhances that shit. It really makes me extra artistic and keen to strive different shit. Plus, I practice a lot that I’ve to have the ability to keep entertained doing it — and weed helps with that. 

Does weed make it easier to practice, no matter what kind of weed it’s?

I really feel like weed is gonna assist me, whatever the pressure. Whether or not sativa, indica, or hybrid, I don’t actually really feel a distinction. For me, I’ll smoke a fucking joint, which is my most well-liked smoking technique, after which I’ll pop on some headphones, get some good music going, and I can do that coaching shit all day.

Really, my schedule is: I get up, smoke a joint, go work out, eat some wholesome shit, smoke a joint on my option to one other gymnasium, go work out, and so forth. Weed simply helps me get by way of the fucking day. 

Everyone is aware of after I present as much as the gymnasium — I scent like straight up weed, bro. I’ll stink it up. They scent me earlier than I even stroll in. Weed is my cologne. I’m that dude bumping music and hotboxing my automobile 5 minutes earlier than follow. 

Do you ever eat hashish earlier than knowledgeable struggle?

Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, however I fought stoned throughout my final struggle. It was towards Kevin Lee, and I smoked a joint earlier than we left the lodge to go to the venue. It was like two or three hours earlier than the struggle. I take a look at it like this, bro: It’s just like the film How Excessive; if I practice excessive, then I ought to struggle excessive. And I’ll get excessive scores. 

Didn’t Lee get flagged for taking adderall earlier than that struggle?

Ya man. That’s wild bro. And he nonetheless misplaced. It exhibits that weed beats adderall. I’ve stated this earlier than, however all these dudes within the UFC are getting beat up by a straight-up stoner. And that’s me. 

Do you’ve any favourite weed merchandise proper now? 

So I’ve a partnership with Tradecraft Farms, and so they have some fire-ass weed. They’re good individuals and the weed is fucking superb. It’s a rising firm and I’m glad to be part of it and assist carry the sunshine to what they’re doing. They only opened a store in El Monte, California, which is true subsequent to my hometown, and we’re internet hosting an occasion on June 4th — a grand opening with a mural, a lowrider present, a band, meals, distributors, and so forth. 

So far as weed merchandise, I’m a flower connoisseur — you’ll be able to name me that. I’m probably not a fan of edibles. That shit simply hits completely different, bro. I’ll do the occasional dab on the finish of the day after I’ve smoked so many joints. However I sometimes hold like 4 or 5 completely different strains on me. So all through the day, I’ll smoke joints with completely different flower strains in them. If I smoke the identical pressure all day, the impact plateaus. It received’t hit me as a lot as after I combine up the strains in my rotation.

Humorous sufficient, I don’t like to combine strains collectively in the identical joint. I attempted it just lately, and that hit me in a different way; I used to be lazy as fuck. That’s the one time weed actually will get me slumped.

What exercise do you love to do after you’ve gotten actually stoned?

Actually bro, every part I do revolves round combating. If I’ve a second the place I can simply kick it and be light and never work out, I’m normally in restoration mode. I’ll chill within the sauna or hand around in the recent tub or an ice bathtub. Restoration mode is crucial to me. Aside from that, my life is completely consumed by coaching. I don’t play video video games, or shit like that, you recognize? I’ll drink beers on my off time, although [laughs]. 

Are you able to advocate one thing to observe whereas actually excessive?

If I’ve time to observe one thing, I’ll take a look at some stand-up comedy or NBA playoffs. I like comics like Dave Chappelle, Sebastian Maniscalco, Invoice Burr, Jo Koy, Jeff Ross. I even like old-fashioned shit like George Carlin. 

Are you able to advocate one thing to take heed to whereas smoking?

I take heed to not-so-popular shit. I dig by way of a variety of music. Currently, I’ve been specializing in up-and-coming rappers from the West Coast. In fact, I nonetheless take heed to YG and Nipsey, however these days I’ve been specializing in Dom Kennedy, Premo Rice, D Smoke, Polyester The Saint, this R&B artist known as Blxst. Stuff like that, actual mellow stuff that has optimistic vitality and goes properly with a aspect of bud. I like hood shit too, like RJ Mr. LA, B-Actual, and Berner.

Are you able to advocate one thing to learn as soon as stoned?

The Mamba Mentality, which is Kobe Bryant’s e book. It’s his private notes, quotes, sayings, and tales. I really like the entire Mamba mentality — situational stuff, like when he injured his achilles and the way he handled that. I’m a heavy, heavy, heavy LA fanatic. I’m big on the vibe and tradition. And since I’m from Cali, I actually took stuff in from Kobe Bryant. I need to learn one thing on Nipsey Hussle subsequent. I’m into books on optimistic mindsets and LA legends. 

Who’s in your dream blunt rotation?

Anyone alive? I already smoked with B-Actual. So undoubtedly Snoop, Berner, Eddie Bravo (my jiu jitsu coach), and Mike Tyson. 

I haven’t tried Mike Tyson’s weed but, however I’d undoubtedly wish to get my fingers on some. I may see myself working into Tyson sooner or later with my line of labor and profession trajectory. Whether or not I’m going on his podcast, or he comes on mine, I really feel like we’re gonna chop it up someday quickly.

Additionally, I need to smoke a joint with the entire world! We’ll remedy world peace, you recognize what I imply?

Any upcoming tasks you need to plug? 

I need to give rapping a strive, however proper now I’m actually targeted on coaching my dick off. Smoking good weed, coaching onerous, and combating these fools. I’ve been on the sidelines for six or seven months now. I lastly gave my physique the remainder it wanted, and now I’m able to get again in there. Folks hold asking, “When’s the comeback? When’s the following struggle?” So I really feel the urgency to get again in there. The whole lot will include time. I’m simply growing my abilities in areas that want work, as a substitute of dropping bombs on these fools on a regular basis. 

For extra on Daniel Rodriguez, comply with him on Instagram.

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