Rodriguez Headlines ‘Battle of the Bay 8’ on July 10

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez will collide with American Top Team’s Mario Rinaldi in the main event at World Fighting Championships “Battle of the Bay 8” on July 10 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla.

The 31-year-old Rodriguez (34-10), who has not been finished in more than six years, has rattled off five wins in six fights, though he dropped a unanimous decision to Rinaldi’s ATT stablemate, Jeff Monson, at a Mixed Fighting Alliance event in December. The troubled Rodriguez, who has battled substance abuse and weight issues throughout his career, remains one of the heavyweight division’s most accomplished submission fighters. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling world champion, he has delivered more than half (19) of his 34 career victories by submission. Rodriguez holds notable wins against former UFC titleholders Randy Couture and Andrei Arlovski.

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