Skip to main content

#4 Featherweight Division

Active

"El Pantera"

Yair Rodriguez

Featherweight Division

16-5-0 (W-L-D)

6

Wins by Knockout

4

Wins by Submission

5

First Round Finishes

Yair Rodriguez

athlete record

Info

Learn more about Yair Rodriguez's UFC history, fighter facts, and Q&A below.

Status
Active
Place of Birth
Hidalgo Del Parral, Mexico
Trains at
Izzystyle wrestling & VFS Chicago
Fighting style
Freestyle
Age
31
Height
71.00
Weight
146.00
Octagon Debut
Nov. 15, 2014
Reach
71.00
Leg reach
41.50
  • Team Velasquez on TUF LATAM

     
  • Pro since 2011

     
  • Six wins by KO, four by submission (2 triangle, armbar, RNC)

     
  • Five first round finishes

     
  • Has won three of his last six and two of his last four

UFC Fight Night (2/24/24) Rodriguez was submitted by Brian Ortega via arm-triangle choke at :58 of the third round 

UFC 290 (7/8/23) Rodriguez was stopped by Alexander Volkanovski via strikes at 4:19 of the third round in a fight for the undisputed UFC featherweight title 

UFC 284 (2/11/23) Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett via triangle choke at 4:29 of the second round to win the interim UFC featherweight title

UFC on ABC (7/16/22) Rodriguez defeated Brian Ortega via TKO (injury) at 4:11 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (11/13/21) Rodriguez lost a five-round unanimous decision to Max Holloway

UFC on ESPN (10/18/19) Rodriguez won a three round unanimous decision over Jeremy Stephens

UFC Fight Night (9/21/19) Rodriguez’ bout with Jeremy Stephens was ruled a no contest due to an accidental eye poke by Rodriguez that rendered Stephens unable to continue. The time was :15 of round one

UFC Fight Night (11/10/18) Rodriguez knocked out Chan Sung Jung at 4:59 of the fifth round

UFC 211 (5/13/17) Rodriguez was stopped by Frankie Edgar (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of the second round

UFC Fight Night (1/15/17) Rodriguez stopped BJ Penn via strikes at :24 of the second round

UFC Fight Night (8/6/16) Rodriguez won a five round split decision over Alex Caceres

UFC 197 (4/23/16) Rodriguez knocked out Andre Fili at 2:15 of the second round

UFC 192 (10/3/15) Rodriguez won a three round unanimous decision over Dan Hooker

UFC 188 (6/13/15) Rodriguez won a three round split decision over Charles Rosa

UFC 180 (11/15/14) Rodriguez won a three round unanimous decision over Leonardo Morales to win the TUF LATAM season 1 featherweight title

 

The Ultimate Fighter, LATAM

On episode nine (semifinals), Rodriguez stopped Rodolfo Rubio via strikes at 3:55 of the first round

On episode four (quarterfinals), Rodriguez submitted Humberto Brown via triangle choke at 2:18 of the second round 

TRAINING: I wake up at 6 am , I prepare my meals and my clothes for training and I run to the gym, just three miles. I get there at 8 am and I warm up a little more, I hit pads with my head coach Mike Valle every day from 8 to 10 - 5 min. rounds - and after that we talk about strategy and watch videos. By the time I get home, it's 11am and I eat my next meal, take a shower, and my next training session is at 12 pm. I switch every day - some days strength and conditioning, some days Jiu-Jitsu with my coach Luiz Claudio and Tiago Viera. I spend two hours there and after that I go to physical therapy at 2:15 to take care of my body and get a massage for my muscles and get ready for the next training session at 7pm. I finish at 9pm or sometimes at 10 and that's it for the day. After that I go home and rest .



When and why did you start training for fighting? I began fighting when I was 17 years old. All my life I did other sports and then I found my passion for fighting. It was the one sport that fulfilled me.



What ranks and titles have you held? TUF LATAM season 1 featherweight winner, National MMA belt in a local promotion - FMP (Mexican Fighter Promotions)



Do you have any heroes? My parents



What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It gives me the opportunity to help my family and the opportunity to be a champion.



Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No, just high school.



What was your job before you started fighting? I was working in a natural holistic store.



Ranks in any martial arts styles: Taekwondo black belt



Favorite grappling technique: Triangle choke



Favorite Striking technique: Kicks