Cory Sandhagen Protégé on Fear, Faith, and Fundamentals Post-LFA 219 Knockout

What follows is a portrait of a young fighter in Elias Rodriguez learning to balance fear, faith, without forgetting the  fundamentals  — and why being scared doesn’t make you weak. It just means you’re alive.

Elias Rodriguez: “Sometimes you’re just going to be scared, so you have to be brave.”

Walk me through the first minute of that fight. What were you reading from Booker before that left hook landed?
I don’t really remember much of my fights but I really thought I was going to submit him when I got that choke; not getting it surprised me. I’m very happy I didn’t burn my arms out and decided to go back to the feet. Cory called a jab to the body, overhand right before the KO — you can hear it on the video, it’s pretty cool.

When the ref waved it off and the crowd erupted, what hit you first — relief, validation, or something else entirely?
I was just happy that I won, that my career is getting started strong.

Elias Rodriguez: The Sandhagen Influence

You’ve been with Cory since you were 14. What’s one lesson or mindset shift he gave you early on that’s still part of how you fight today?
That you have to be okay with being a human being at the end of the day. You’re going to feel scared or nervous or prideful or excited, and those are all normal human emotions. Be okay with feeling those things and figure out why you’re feeling something and what to do about it. And sometimes you’re just going to be scared, so you have to be brave — which sounds super cliché, but it’s the truth.

You’ve also filmed Cory’s camps. How does being behind the camera change the way you see fighting — the patterns, the tempo, the storytelling of it?
It gets broken down into bite-sized chunks when Cory explains it, which is really cool. It helps me understand something better, and seeing the process of an elite athlete like Cory go through life is really inspiring. Fighting is a crazy but beautiful sport.

Elias Rodriguez: High Altitude DNA

In your eyes, what defines “High Altitude striking,” and how did that DNA show up in your finish at LFA 219?
Good position, footwork (kinda is part of good position), and space. That’s what I try to teach at High Altitude and it is very important in striking. You should always feel you have an answer to something offensively or defensively. I got a little sloppy at times, I will admit, but I think I did a decent job staying in position — especially right before the finish. That’s the reason I finished him.

Every fighter has that hidden moment no one sees — what was the hardest part of this camp, physically or mentally?
Just living life and fighting is hard sometimes. Working, relationships, obligations — it’s difficult at times trying to juggle everything at once, even if everything is going good in life. However, God has gifted us that in the human experience. It makes us feel human. So loving the journey and stress of it all, and understanding not everything will go your way (occupational hazard of life), is very important. Just don’t take everything so seriously. First-world problems.

Elias Rodriguez: Owning His Own Name

The “Sandhagen protégé” label follows you everywhere. How do you balance honoring that connection while carving out your own identity?
I know it will follow me — that’s fine. I have a job to do still, and just because I’m his protégé doesn’t mean I don’t have to work as hard. I’ll just do what I do and try as hard as I can. At the end of the day, we are different people on the same train. Becoming an elite fighter is how I plan to honor the connection. There are worse problems to have.

What did winning Performance of the Night change for you — not just in the wallet, but in your confidence and momentum?
I was telling everyone that I would get another finish and performance bonus, and I like to be a man of my word, so I’m glad I succeeded in getting both.

If you could choose your next test right now, what kind of opponent or challenge would bring out the best version of you?
One that waves a pizza in front of my face the whole time… On a real note, right now I think I can take any style. I get rounds in the gym with every type of style there is, so I can take the heat.

Elias Rodriguez Fills in the Blanks

“Colorado made me ___hate snow.
High Altitude taught me ___ strength is won through struggle.
Cory expects me____  to work hard.”

Elias Rodriguez’s measured confidence fits the mold of a High Altitude fighter — cerebral, disciplined, and quietly dangerous. Expect to see him back under the LFA lights soon, building toward the UFC call that feels inevitable.

Follow Elias Rodriguez: @esrodri300
Read more exclusive LFA interviews on MMA Sucka.