Gregory Rodrigues has UFC championship aspirations following TKO finish over Brad Tavares: “I already showed I belong at the top”

After nabbing his second straight victory at UFC Vegas 86, Gregory Rodrigues sees big things in his future.

Rodrigues shared the Octagon with Brad Tavares on the main card of this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event. The Brazilian bruiser scored a third-round TKO finish, as he tries to wipe away the memory of his early 2023 KO loss to Brunno Ferreira. Rodrigues feels he is back on track, and he has championship aspirations.

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Can Gregory Rodrigues put together a hot streak and one day become a UFC champion?

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Gregory Rodrigues Eyes UFC Middleweight Championship

Speaking to reporters following his big UFC Vegas 86 win, Rodrigues shared his belief that he has proven he belongs inside the Octagon with tough 185-pounders, and he hopes to prove that he can one day be in that elite conversation by capturing the middleweight gold (h/t MMAJunkie).

“If you see the way Dricus Du Plessis did, he started with Brad, and he did his job to get to the title,” Rodrigues told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 236 post-fight press conference. “I don’t know what the UFC is going to offer me, but I’m happy with everything they do, and they do a good job, but I already showed I belong at the top.

“My goal is to be the champion of this division. I want to be the king of this division. I’m going to take my time, and I believe the UFC already sees that, and they’re going to offer me good things.”

Last month, Dricua Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland to become the new UFC middleweight champion. What’s next at the top of the 185-pound division is uncertain, as “DDP” revealed that he isn’t exactly clamoring for a spot on the UFC 300 card, and Israel Adesanya reportedly won’t be ready for the show unless Dana White has a trick up his sleeve.