Rivalries: Yair Rodriguez

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A date with one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight goliaths awaits Yair Rodriguez.

“The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” winner will meet Max Holloway in the UFC Fight Night 197 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where a victory would almost certainly put him on a path to challenge for the undisputed featherweight crown sometime in 2022. Rodriguez, 29, has compiled an 8-1 record with one no contest across his 10 appearances inside the Octagon. Wins over B.J. Penn, Alex Caceres, Andre Fili and Dan Hooker anchor his resume.

As Rodriguez moves ever closer to his forthcoming battle with Holloway, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Leonardo Morales

Well-timed takedowns and superior grappling spurred Rodriguez to a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Leandro Morales in “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” featherweight final at UFC 180 on Nov. 15, 2014. “El Pantera” swept the scorecards inside Mexico City Arena with matching 29-28 marks. Morales enjoyed some success on the feet, particularly with his kicks, but did not have enough to overcome his deficiencies on the ground. Rodriguez executed takedowns in each of the first two frames, achieving full mount once and threatening with various submissions, from armbars to heel hooks. The two featherweights fought to a virtual stalemate on the feet over the final five minutes, though Rodriguez held a 19-18 edge in significant strikes and 20-18 in total strikes.

Frankie Edgar

“The Answer” gave Rodriguez the big brother treatment, as he was awarded a technical knockout against “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” winner in their UFC 211 featherweight showcase on May 13, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The end came in between the second and third rounds, where Rodriguez was deemed unfit to continue. Edgar did not fool around. The Toms River, New Jersey, native executed a takedown inside the first 90 seconds and pounded on “El Pantera” with punches, forearm strikes and elbows for more than three minutes. Once the first five minutes concluded, Rodriguez rose to his feet and the damage became apparent for all to see. His left eye was nearly swollen shut. Edgar struck for another takedown early in Round 2, dodged an attempted kneebar, achieved full mount and then settled in top position. Rodriguez absorbed more punishment courtesy of targeted elbows and punches. After the round wrapped, the cageside physician examined the 24-year-old prospect and recommended the fight be stopped.

Chan Sung Jung

It had to be seen to be believed. Rodriguez was responsible for one of the most incredible finishes in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, as he knocked out Jung with a no-look upward elbow in the fifth round of their UFC Fight Night 139 headliner on Nov. 10, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. “The Korean Zombie” kissed the canvas in the final second of the fight. The official time of the stoppage was 4:59 of Round 5. The Rodriguez lightning bolt tied a bow on a clear contender for “Fight of the Year,” the two featherweights having emptied themselves across 25 remarkable minutes of hand-to-hand combat. They combined to land 245 significant strikes against one another, with Jung holding a slight 126-119 advantage. Rodriguez zeroed in on the South Korean’s legs with a variety of kicks and mixed in some of his patented spinning techniques but could not halt his forward progress—until he caught the charging Jung with the fight-ending elbow.

Jeremy Stephens

A hyperactive kicking game carried Rodriguez to a unanimous decision over the Alliance MMA mainstay in their crackling UFC on ESPN 6 co-main event on Oct. 18, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston. Scores were 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28, all for Rodriguez. Stephens—whose first encounter with the VFS Academy star a month prior ended after he was inadvertently poked in the eye—struggled to keep pace through two rounds. Rodriguez honed in on his body and legs with a variety of kicks and obliged the longtime Eric Del Fierro protege with more than one wild punching exchange. He did his best work in Round 2, where he folded Stephens with a wicked body kick, followed up with punches and hammerfists and even flirted with a brabo choke. “Lil’ Heathen” weathered the onslaught and made his move across the final five minutes, as he landed a pair of takedowns, passed guard and battered a fatigued Rodriguez with punches and elbows. However, the finish Stephens needed never materialized, allowing “El Pantera” to exit the cage with a hard-earned victory.