Ernesto Rodriguez Record, stats and next fight

Analysis

Ernesto Rodriguez, nicknamed Starboy, is a Cuban American fighter competing in the PFL welterweight division, trained at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He holds a professional record of eleven wins and two losses, the most recent a TKO loss to Thad Jean on July 25, 2026, in the third round.

Career

Born on August 9, 1997, in Havana, Cuba, Ernesto Rodriguez emigrated to the United States with his family, following a route through Ecuador and then an overland journey across several countries, before settling in Las Vegas, where he took up wrestling at age six before turning to MMA. He began his professional career on February 13, 2021, with a unanimous decision win over Dylan Forzani at MTF 22: St. George. He followed with a TKO win over Austin Wourms at RUF MMA 40, before suffering his first professional loss, by TKO, to Richie Lewis at Titan FC 71.

American Regional Circuit Career

Rodriguez then reeled off a string of wins on the Tuff-N-Uff regional circuit and at the LFA: unanimous decisions over Kevin Crane, Will Gibson, and Jeffrey Craig, an arm-triangle choke submission over James Cannon, then wins over Troy Green, Edson Marques by KO, and Alexandre de Almeida and Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie by TKO. That run of success earned him a spot in the PFL in 2026.

PFL Career

On March 28, 2026, Ernesto Rodriguez won his first PFL fight by majority decision over Masayuki Kikuiri, at PFL Pittsburgh: Eblen vs Battle, a card headlined by Johnny Eblen. On July 25, 2026, he faced Thad Jean for the vacant welterweight title at PFL Washington D.C., after Shamil Musaev withdrew due to weight-cut complications. Rodriguez lost by TKO in the third round. A fight against Rhys McKee has been announced for the next stage of his PFL career.

Fighting Style

Trained in wrestling since childhood, Ernesto Rodriguez builds his game around takedowns and control, backed by striking solid enough to have produced three wins by KO or TKO. Seven of his eleven wins, however, have come by decision, a sign of a fighter capable of executing a full game plan over the long haul rather than always chasing a quick finish. Training at Xtreme Couture, in Las Vegas, alongside a pool of fighters who have come through the UFC Performance Institute, he pairs that wrestling background with a frame of 5’9″ (175 cm) and 170 pounds (77 kg), offset by a 6’1″ (185 cm) reach that lets him control distance before closing for the clinch.

Record

• Professional record: 11 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws
• Wins by KO or TKO: 3
• Wins by submission: 1
• Wins by decision: 7
• Title: no title won to date
• Honors: runner-up for the PFL’s vacant welterweight title in 2026

Fighter Profile

• Full name: not confirmed by available sources
• Nickname: Starboy
• Born: August 9, 1997, Havana, Cuba
• Nationality: Cuban American
• Height: 5’9″ (175 cm)
• Reach: 6’1″ (185 cm)
• Division: welterweight
• Team: Xtreme Couture, Las Vegas
• Coach: not specified in available sources
• Base: wrestling

Sources

• www.ufc.com
• fightmatrix.com
• combat-edge.com