Yair Rodriguez News

Tom Taylor - June 5, 2018

Last month, the UFC caused a tidal wave of controversy by cutting highly-regarded featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez, citing the fact that he had allegedly turned down consecutive fights with Ricardo Lamas and Zabit Magomedsharipov as the reason. In the end, of course, Rodriguez and the UFC were able to patch things up, and the Mexican featherweight is now expected to battle Magomedsharipov at UFC 228 this September. All the same, UFC President Dana White assures that, should any other fighters turn down multiple bout offers in the future, they can expect similar treatment.

Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018

Yair Rodriguez is back with the UFC! The featherweight standout confirmed the news earlier today on Twitter, this following an initial report from ESPN on Friday afternoon.

Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018

Earlier this month, Dana White and the UFC made the extremely controversial choice to cut red-hot featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez. The reason, we were told, was that Rodriguez had turned down bouts with Ricardo Lamas and Zabit Magomedsharipov — apparently a major no-no. While there was briefly talk of Yair Rodriguez moving to South American MMA powerhouse Combate Americas, it now sounds as though he and the UFC have made amends. Better still, it sounds like he’ll fight Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC 228 this September.

Tom Taylor - May 29, 2018

Earlier this month, red-hot UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez was ejected from the UFC roster. The reason, we were told by UFC President Dana White, is that Rodriguez had turned down multiple fight offers. Apparently, that’s a no-no. Speaking at the UFC Liverpool post-fight press conference, White defended his decision to cut Rodriguez.

Drake Riggs - May 21, 2018

When news broke earlier this month that young featherweight prospect, Yair Rodriguez had been cut from the UFC, the MMA world was surprised, to say the least. The 10-2 Ultimate Fighter: Latin America winner, Rodriguez last fought in May of last year when he suffered his first UFC loss to former lightweight champion and perennial top featherweight, Frankie Edger.

Drake Riggs - May 10, 2018

Surprising news has just come out from the LA Times’ Lance Pugmire that top UFC featherweight prospect, Yair Rodriguez has been cut from the UFC after refusing to fight Zabit Magomedsharipov at the proposed August 4th date for UFC 227 in Los Angeles, California. The @latimes has learned that Yair Rodriguez has been cut from by the UFC for refusing to take the Aug. 4 Staples Center PPV fight against Zabit Magomedsharipov.

Drake Riggs - May 8, 2018

Looking for a prospect battle? Well, one that has fans more interested than almost any other fight right now is the proposed Zabit Magomedsharipov vs Yair Rodriguez fight after Magomedsharipov called Rodriguez out after his recent win at UFC 223. It’s now been a full month since UFC 223 and according to UFC president, Dana White via Lance Pugmire, the fight is on for UFC 227 in Los Angeles, California on August 4th.

Justin Golightly - February 21, 2018

We haven’t seen Yair Rodriguez since his lost to Frankie Edgar in the second round in May of last year at UFC 211. After stacking up six-fight win streak — eight if you count his non-UFC wins before signing — suddenly it was back to the drawing board for the hyped prospect. It is a place that Edgar has put many hopeful contenders, what they do once they are sent back there makes a difference in their careers. It seems like Yair Rodriguez is making all the right moves, figuratively and literally. “I’ve been analyzing myself and have come to realizations on what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong. I went back home to Mexico, where my family opened a business less than six months ago. I’ve been building some apartment buildings there. I’m just taking some time for myself, and that’s why you haven’t seen me. I just fought Frankie Edgar, who is next to fight for the title. That means something. I was on a six-fight win streak before that. I want to be the f-cking best, and I will show it. I am confident. People around me, who have seen me train, they will tell you. I’m not a f-cking joke.”

Chris Taylor - September 23, 2017

After 13 months of production, the highly anticipated documentary film El Pantera starring Mexican UFC fighter Yair Rodriguez will be making it’s world premiere at the New York Latino Film Festival Presented by HBO. The film’s premiere will take place on Saturday October 14, 2017 at 6pm at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center in New York City. Tickets will be available to the public for purchase at Cinepolis Chelsea Box Office or by calling 877.987.6487. More information can be found at www.nylatinofilmfestival.com Special thank you to NYLFF founder Calixto Chinchilla for helping make the world premiere of El Pantera possible. EL PANTERA is a documentary film that follows the training camp of MMA star Yair Rodriguez aka El Pantera as he embarks on his journey to become the first ever Mexican born UFC Champion. The film will explore topics such as Rodriguez’s manifestation of the American dream, immigration and the sacrifices a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter makes to become a champion.

Tom Taylor - June 22, 2017

Earlier this year, former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn made his long-awaited return to the Octagon. He did so against red hot featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez. Though Penn fought valiantly, this fight unfortunately didn’t go his way, as he was finished by a volley of second-round Rodriguez strikes.

Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017

Earlier this month, on the main card of UFC 211, red hot featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez hit a road block in the form of Frankie Edgar. Despite some strong moments in the fight, Rodriguez was grounded and ultimately stopped by his experienced foe. Now several weeks removed from this loss, Rodriguez spoke with BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor about the fight. Apparently, losing this fight was his worst fear – though he is certain he will grow from the experience.

Tom Taylor - May 14, 2017

Last night, on the main card of the stacked UFC 211, red hot featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez faced the biggest test of his career in former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Unfortunately for Rodriguez and his fans, this test proved to be a little too much. After giving up several takedowns, Rodriguez was pummelled by his foe’s ground and pound until the cage-side physician had no choice but to call a stop to the action between rounds. In the wake of this tough loss, Rodriguez has released a poignant statement on his official Facebook account. See it below:

bjpenndotcom - May 6, 2017

Middleweight boxing champion Canelo Alvarez is undoubtably one of Mexico’s biggest professional athletes. Interestingly enough, ahead of his upcoming title defense against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr this Cinco De Mayo weekend, UFC Prospect Yair Rodriguez believes he can actually become a bigger star in Mexico than Canelo is. Ahead of that fight, streaking UFC featherweight Yair Rodriguez spoke to MMAJunkie to explain why he feels he can become a bigger star in Mexico than Canelo!

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2017

Yair Rodriguez believes that “disrespectful” Frankie Edgar is the toughest fight in the featherweight division Surging UFC featherweight contender Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez will return to the octagon at next month’s UFC 211 pay-per-view event in Dallas, Texas where he will square off with former UFC lightweight champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2017

Yair Rodriguez details his post-fight conversation with BJ Penn, expects “The Prodigy” to defeat Dennis Siver Surging UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez will take on former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar on the main card of next month’s stacked UFC 211 pay-per-view card in Dallas, Texas.

Chris Taylor - April 16, 2017

Yair Rodriguez is not like other fighters and vows to become a UFC champion this year Surging UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez will take on former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar on the main card of next month’s stacked UFC 211 pay-per-view card in Dallas, Texas.

bjpenndotcom - April 14, 2017

https://youtu.be/BFomgcAqGCA Streaking UFC prospect Yair Rodriguez is fresh off his January win over BJ Penn, which saw the young star pick up his 6th straight UFC win, extending his unbeaten streak in the Octagon. Following Rodriguez’ win over Penn, the UFC gave the #8 ranked featherweight quite the step up in competition as they booked ‘Pantera’ to fight UFC featherweight #1 contender Frankie Edgar in a pivotal showdown at UFC 211 on May 13th.

Russell Ess - March 14, 2017

A fight that has the potential to really shake up the 145-pound division is set as #2 UFC ranked featherweight Frankie Edgar takes on #9 ranked Yair Rodriguez on May 13 at UFC 211. Edgar, a former UFC lightweight champion has much more to lose currently sitting near the top of the featherweight division while Rodriguez has everything to gain in their competition. However, Edgar talking with Jon Anik and Kenny Florian on their Anik and Florian podcast said he was game as always didn’t have any issues with taking on the flashy rising star.