RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Combat sport can be a cruel mistress, and for Albuquerque’s Tim Means , it proved to be a disappointing and emotional night as he fell to a submission loss at UFC on ESPN+ 25. Means (29-12-1 MMA, 12-9 UFC) fought against the debuting Daniel Rodriguez with a heavy heart, as he attempted to produce a win in memory of Pete and Mateo Sandoval, two students Means knew well from his homtown, who tragically died in a recent car crash on their way to school. But things did not go Means’ way on fight night as he was rocked, then submitted, by the impressive Rodriguez in the second round of their featured preliminary card fight at Santa Ana Star Center. Despite his defeat, Means appeared backstage to talk to the media and praised his opponent while revealing an early-fight injury made life tougher than he had expected on fight night. “Hats off to Rodriquez and his team,” he told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after his fight
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