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As much as he embraced his “Black Belt Slayer” moniker, Nicky Rod is equally proud to boast his Natty King image by popping the tarp off and giving the world a gaze at what clean training can get a person.
Whether it’s at an exotic location on his Instagram, in an Extra Rounds interview or immediately following a career-defining grappling match, Rodriguez seems to enjoy a life without a shirt far more than one bound to the confines of thread.
As a result, we couldn’t help but wonder what activities Nicky Rod does feel require a shirt, so we asked the Natty King, tarp or no tarp?
POP THAT TARP OFF, NICKY ROD!!! YOU'RE OUR #FPI4 CHAMPION!!!!! pic.twitter.com/XKBdqVsmVn
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 30, 2023
Dirt Bike Riding
Dress Code: Tarp Required
“Realistically, I would say tarp on. Just because if you’re on the track and you’re catching somebody else’s dirt coming up, it’ll pop you in the chest pretty well. I’d say for trail riding on a sunny day and you’re taking some videos, then top off. You can live the best of both lives.”
Baseball
Dress Code: Tarps Off
“Baseball, definitely tarp off. Soak up some sun rays and look good swinging the bat.”
Hunting
Dress Code: Tarps Off
“I definitely have never been hunting, but I will go in the future, for sure. I’m intrigued by archery; it’s a very primitive way to catch your food. Anybody can shoot a gun, but it takes quite a bit of skill to be a fine archer.”
Cooking
Dress Code: Tarps Off
“Cooking, shirt off. Being home, in general, or at an Airbnb, absolutely shirtless. When I lived in Puerto Rico, I would go months without wearing a shirt. I would wear a rash guard for practice, but, besides that, cooking, going to the grocery store and getting coffee, I’d do entirely shirtless.”
Snow Shoveling
Dress Code: Tarps Required
“In high school, I would shovel the driveway and put a trash bag on, a couple hoodies and jackets to see how much weight I could lose. It was like my own little sauna in there. Maybe put a tarp on if I was shoveling some snow.”
Fishing
Dress Code: Tarps Off
“Absolutely shirtless for fishing. Vitamin D is crucial, got to have it.”
Flying
Dress Code: Combination of Both
“If I’m on a private jet, then absolutely go shirtless. If I’m on a public flight maybe tarp on, but if I’m in the bathroom, then definitely shirtless.”
Skateboarding
Dress Code: Tarps Off
“Absolutely tarp off. Specifically, when it’s summer, skateboarding down the Jersy Shore. I’m more of a longboard kind of guy, I’m too big to be doing tricks and stuff, so I’m just going to shred some corners.”
Off the mat you can’t say he’s not consistent, but on the mat, you truly never know what you’re going to get. What does he have in store for the grappling world next? Find out at the FIGHT PASS Invitational 6!
Catch Nicky Rod and the rest of the FPI 6 card, Sunday, March 3, ONLY on UFC FIGHT PASS!
