Gregory Rodrigues unimpressed by Christian Leroy Duncan: ‘I’ll send him back to the circus’

Gregory Rodrigues is well aware of what Christian Leroy Duncan is capable of pulling off inside the cage, but warns the Englishman that he’s ready to disappoint the Manchester crowd at UFC 304.

Rodrigues faces “CLD” on Saturday’s main card, with a third straight victory in his sights following knockouts of Denis Tiuliulin and Brad Tavares. He has been working with former GLORY champion Artem Vakhitov at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, and the experience has him prepared for anything thrown his way on the feet.

“God knows everything, and [Vakhitov] came [to Kill Cliff FC] at the right time,” Rodrigues told MMA Fighting. “I trained with him my entire camp and it was great. It was ideal because Christian also throws a lot of kicks. He has decent striking, but doesn’t throw hands that much.

“His kicks are one of the most dangerous things he does, spinning elbow and spinning kick. I’ll send him back to the circus, brother. I think that’s where he belongs. Go do pirouettes there, not here.”

Rodrigues said he was originally expected to face Antonio Trocoli at UFC Denver before his countryman was selected to step in on just days’ notice against Shara Magomedov in Saudi Arabia instead, but Rodrigues continued training with a promise that he would fight soon.

“Robocop” eventually replaced Robert Bryczek at UFC 304, and now is ready to impress.

“To me, he’s way better as an opponent [than Trocoli],” Rodrigues said. “I’m not fighting a newcomer, or someone coming off a loss. He won his last two and fought some people I’ve fought before as well. He’s tough, I recognize that, but I think there are levels in UFC and MMA. I’m on a completely different level. I could be fighting a ranked opponent already, walking my path towards a title shot, but nothing has changed.”

Duncan won seven in a row under the Cage Warriors banner before leaving as middleweight champion to join the UFC. He has won three of his first four fights inside the octagon, all by stoppage, but Rodrigues vows to put his skills to the test in Manchester.

“I believe it’s going to be a great night for me Saturday,” Rodrigues said. “I work my strategies and plan on fighting three rounds, but I obviously give my all in every round [for the finish]. I’ll never lay and pray, I’ll do everything I need to create opportunities to end the fight. I believe this fight can end before the [decision], but I’m there in take this guy out to swim in deep waters.”