A new kind of fight night is coming to California—and it’s bringing both chaos and charisma with it.
Daniel Rodriguez, the fan-favorite UFC contender known as “D-Rod,” is stepping into a different role on Saturday, April 25. Instead of fighting, he’ll be cageside as a guest color commentator for the debut of the Foos Fighting Championship, a first-of-its-kind MMA event blending combat sports with viral street culture.
The show takes place in Burbank and will air live across multiple platforms, marking a bold new experiment in how fight promotions connect with fans.
A New Twist on MMA Broadcasting
Rodriguez will join the commentary team alongside “Concrete” and play-by-play announcer Ben “The Bane” Davis, bringing UFC-level insight to a card built around raw, unfiltered talent.
The event is co-promoted by COMBATE GLOBAL and the viral comedy brand Foos Gone Wild—a collaboration that promises equal parts entertainment and action.
“I’ve been doing my homework on these foos and I already know we’re gonna see some sick fades in La Jaula,” said Foos Gone Wild founder Lil’ Mr. E.
COMBATE GLOBAL CEO Campbell McLaren added:
“This event puts a fun spin on the sport of MMA, but I think we are also going to see the emergence of a few potential future stars that we wouldn’t necessarily have had an opportunity to look at had we not created this event…”
What Is “Foos Fighting Championship”?
Think of it as a grassroots proving ground with personality.
Inspired loosely by Dana White’s Contender Series, the concept matches everyday fighters—“foos” with real gym reputations—inside La Jaula, the COMBATE GLOBAL cage.
The goal? Find the next breakout fighter who might otherwise never get a shot.
Full Fight Card
Main Event
- Flyweight: Joseph Muñoz (2-0) vs. Ariel Huizar (4-3)
Main Card Highlights
- Light Heavyweight: Jake Lleckfelt (1-0) vs. Bobby Liles (0-0)
- Featherweight: Ryan Pak (0-0) vs. Hansol Yi (0-0)
- Lightweight: Carlos Meza (1-0) vs. Rey Rodriguez (0-5)
- Catchweight (150 lbs): Khachic Vardanian (2-0) vs. Carlos Venebra (0-0)
- Bantamweight: Erik Berganza (debut) vs. Jaeysen Jeff (2-4)
How to Watch
- Start Time: 9:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM PT
- English Broadcast:
- Samsung TV Plus (COMBATE GLOBAL channel)
- YouTube (COMBATE GLOBAL channel)
- Spanish Broadcast:
- EstrellaTV
- Samsung TV Plus (Spanish channel)
Tickets
Fans in Southern California can attend live, with tickets available via Ticketon.
Why This Event Is Different
This isn’t your typical MMA show. It’s part fight card, part cultural crossover—designed to tap into a younger, digital-native audience while still delivering real competition.
With a UFC star like Rodriguez on commentary and a platform that blends humor, identity, and fighting, Foos Fighting Championship could become one of the most talked-about new formats in combat sports.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, and Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and is also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer. He’s also the main photographer for the 4CornersMafia Car Club.
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