Imanol Rodriguez eyes Joshua Van: ‘First, I'll go for his friend’

Undefeated flyweight Imanol Rodriguez is using his UFC 332 preliminary bout against Alden Coria as a stepping stone toward championship contention. The 26-year-old Dana White's Contender Series graduate has finished all seven of his professional victories—six by knockout and one by submission—and carries a 1-0 UFC record into Saturday's matchup at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Rodriguez has ambitious plans for 2026, aiming to break into the Top 15 at 125 pounds by year's end and targeting a ranked opponent before December. To achieve this timeline, he needs a decisive performance against Coria, who enters with a 13-3 record and is riding a seven-fight unbeaten streak with three straight UFC victories. Rodriguez views Coria as a necessary hurdle rather than an obstacle. Notably, Rodriguez added some extra motivation to his pursuit, noting that Joshua Van—a ranked competitor he has targeted—will likely be in Coria's corner, making the bout a statement of intent. "First, I'll go for his friend and then I'll go for him," Rodriguez said, suggesting he plans to dispatch Coria before pursuing Van later in the year. Rodriguez believes a clean, dominant win Saturday will position him for the two-month turnaround he needs to compete again in December and continue his climb.