In a historic showing, two-time Budo Sento Muay Thai champion, Veronica “La Peligrosa” Rodriguez, opens up about her historic debut and shokcing wing at the 2026 K-1 World Grand Prix, in which she would score a shocking upset over the reigning champion Kira Matsutani in which she would defeat her in a thrilling back-and-forth fight. That Veronica Rodriguez would drop her with a clinch overhand, clinching the fight from the Japanese champion.
Veronica Rodriguez talks getting a title shot in japan
One of the most infatuating things about the storyline leading up to Veronica Rodriguez’s striking battle against the 22-year-old phenom Kira Matsutani was the way her opportunity manifested, with the Mexican striker saying she got it in Colombia, of all places. She said the following regarding that.
“This opportunity was given to me in Colombia. I went to fight in Colombia last year in a league called Extreme Striking, which is also a small-glove modality, just like Budo is. I fought a Brazilian girl ….After I won in Colombia, they connected us with K-1 and well, honestly, I didn’t waste that opportunity, I prepared super well. I think that for every Muay Thai fighter in this kind of martial art that is striking and kickboxing, making it to a league like K-1 is a dream. It’s like making it to ONE Championship too, which for me is also my goal, to be able to share the honor of fighting in ONE Championship. For me, getting to K-1 was a very big step, I took a huge leap. And right now, crowning myself as the 45 kg champion, well, you can’t imagine, I don’t know how to express the emotion I feel inside at this moment.“
Rodriguez also spoke about how the surprising and exciting opportunity, especially given the transition from Muay Thai to kickboxing, would change her approach in her fight camp and overall training intensity.
Well, the first thing that came to our minds is that it was going to be a completely difficult challenge for us, but that we were going to show not only the people of Mexico, but internationally, that we could also do it, that it is also possible for us to get all the way over there and do a great job. And well, that’s all we did…I think I prepared super well and we knew we weren’t going into anything easy, we didn’t have it easy at all. It’s a challenge, it’s a difficult and tough situation for us, but we’re going to face the best, and to get to where we want to be we have to fight the best. And our time is now
On facing the unique Japanese kickboxing style, known to many as the “J-Kick” style, employed by top Japanese strikers such as Yuki Yoza and Takeru Segawa. Kira Matsutani was no different with her boxing-heavy style and effective karate kicks. Veronica Rodriguez opened up about facing that unique style for the first time and overcoming the tricky style of the Japanese Karatekas.
“There is a big clash of styles. I think Muay Thai is characterized in many ways. I’ve always said that my Muay Thai is like explosive. There are others that are more technical, many very traditional ones. But I think that with Kira it was a kickboxing style very much like Taekwondo, very much like Karate; her stance was very sideways. I think it was a clash of styles because of that, because I box more, my stance is more of a boxing stance, and hers was more about kicking.“
“So it was like that clash of: she kicked me, I boxed her, and then I kicked her and she tried to box me. I think it was a total war of styles. Like I say, she comes very much from Karate, from Taekwondo; I come more from boxing. But I liked it, honestly, it was a fight where I had a lot of fun. She let me work, I let her work, and I think the people had a lot of fun with that fight.”
The defining strike of the fight was Veronica Rodriguez’s overhand right, which dropped Matsutani and won her the fight decisively. The new champ opened up about how she and her team trained for that specific moment in her camp.
“The thing is, we practiced that punch a lot with my team on the exits; it was that when we spun out we’d catch her with the hooks. We worked that punch a lot, but when it happened, honestly I said “if the fight was close, this get’s me the win“. I mean, it was an extra point, the round was about to end, she had to knock me out to be able to beat me for that point.“
And finally, the new K-1 champion would close out on a positive note: the future seems bright not just for Mexican striking arts but for all Latin American strikers and the rest of North Americans. As her hard work and dedication seem to be driving her to new heights, she maintains her K-1 championship and keeps the highs in her career.
“Well, to keep growing. Keep growing, but still keeping my feet very well planted on the ground. I know we reached a very big company, but we aren’t the best yet, because if we were the best we’d be in other places. We have to keep improving, we have to keep working hard and focused, not losing, as I say, our feet from the ground, but yes to grow, keep growing in everything, in the work environment, improving in all aspects. And well, let whatever has to come, come, the fights that have to follow, the challenges that have to come. We’re going to keep working hard, we’re going to go for all our dreams, for all our goals and keep crowning the world in all the places they invite us and wherever God puts us.“
With her never-say-die attitude, Mexican grit, and desire to continue trailblazing and inspiring Mexican audiences and fellow athletes. The New K-1 champion, Veronica Rodriguez, looks to remain on top and keep her positive attitude along the way.
