In a historic display, twice sense of position Muay Thai champion Veronica “La Peligrosa” Rodriguez talks about her historic debut and shocking wing at the 2026 K-1 World Grand Prix, in which she would score a shocking upset over reigning champion Kira Matsutani, defeating her in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. That Veronica Rodriguez would drop her with an overhand clinch, winning the fight against the Japanese champion.
Veronica Rodriguez talks about a title shot in Japan
One of the most fascinating things about the storyline leading up to Veronica Rodriguez’s high-profile battle against the 22-year-old phenom Kira Matsutani was the way her opportunity manifested itself, with the Mexican striker saying she got it mainly in Colombia. She said the following about this.
“I got this opportunity in Colombia. I started fighting in Colombia last year in a competition called Extreme Striking, which is also a small glove modality, just like Budo. I fought against a Brazilian girl… After I won in Colombia, they connected us to K-1 and honestly I didn’t waste that opportunity, I prepared super well. I think for any Muay Thai fighter in this kind of martial art that is striking and kickboxing, reaching a competition like K-1 is a challenge It’s like I also made it to ONE Championship, which is also my goal, to be able to share the honor of competing in ONE Championship. For me, reaching K-1 was a very big step, and at this moment, when I crowned myself 45kg champion, you can’t imagine that I don’t know how to express the emotion I’m feeling right now.“
Rodriguez also spoke about the surprising and exciting opportunity, especially considering the transition from Muay Thai to kickboxingwould change her approach in her fight camp and overall training intensity.
The first thing that came to our mind was that it was going to be a very difficult challenge for us, but that we were going to show not only the people of Mexico, but also internationally, that we could do it too, that it is also possible for us to get all the way 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 to do anything easy, we didn’t have it easy at all. It is a challenge, it is a difficult and difficult situation for us, but we will face the best, and to get where we want to be, we have to fight the best. And our time is now
About facing the unique Japanese style of kickboxing, known to many as the “J-Kick” style, used by Japanese top strikers such as Yuki Yoza and Takeru Segawa. Kira Matsutani was no different with her boxing style and effective karate kicks. Veronica Rodriguez first opened up about facing that unique style and overcoming the difficult style of the Japanese Karatekas.
“There’s a big clash of styles. I think Muay Thai is characterized in many ways. I’ve always said my Muay Thai is explosive. There are others that are more technical, many very traditional. But I think with Kira it was a kickboxing style that was very much like Taekwondo, very much like Karate; her stance was very sideways. I think that’s why it was a clash of styles, because I box more, my stance is more of a boxing stance, and hers was more about kicking.“
“So it was like this clash of, she kicked me, I boxed her, and then I kicked her and she tried to box me. I think it was an all-out style war. Like I said, she comes very much from Karate, from Taekwondo; I come more from boxing. But I honestly liked it, it was a fight that I enjoyed a lot. She made me work, I made her work, and I think people had a lot of fun with that fight.
The decisive blow of the fight was Veronica Rodriguez’s overhand right, which dropped Matsutani and won her the fight decisively. The new champion talked 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 at the exit; it was that if we turned to the outside, we would catch her with the hooks. We worked a lot with that punch, but when it happened, I honestly said: “If the fight was close, this gives me the victory“I mean it was an extra point, the round was about to end, she had to knock me out to beat me before that point.“
And finally, the new K-1 champion would end on a positive note: the future seems bright, not only for Mexican striking arts, but for all Latin American strikers and the rest of North Americans. While her hard work and dedication seem to propel her to new heights, she retains her K-1 championship and maintains career highs.
“Well, to keep growing. Keep growing, but still keep my feet firmly on the ground. I know we have reached a very big company, but we are not yet the best, because if we were the best we would be in other places. We have to keep improving, we have to keep working hard and focused and not, as I said, lose our feet from the ground, but yes to grow, keep growing in everything, in the working environment, and improve in all aspects. And well, let whatever must come, come, the battles that must follow, the challenges that must come. We continue to work hard, we go for all our dreams, for all our goals and we continue to crown the world in all places where they invite us and wherever God places us.“
With her never-say-die attitude, Mexican grit and desire to continue to pioneer and inspire Mexican audiences and fellow athletes. The new K-1 Champion, Veronica Rodriguez, looks to stay on top and maintain her positive attitude along the way.
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