Yair Rodríguez
BornYair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo[1][2]
(1992-10-06) October 6, 1992[3]
Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico
Other namesEl Pantera
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight
Reach71 in (180 cm)[4]
StyleKickboxing
Fighting out ofHuntington Beach, California, U.S.
TeamHuntington Beach Ultimate Training Center
Jackson Wink MMA Academy (former)
Kings MMA
Valle Flow Striking (former)
RankBlack belt in Taekwondo[5]
Years active2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins15
By knockout5
By submission4
By decision6
Losses4
By knockout3
By decision1
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo[1][2] (born October 6, 1992) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the former Interim UFC Featherweight Champion. Rodríguez has been with the UFC since 2014 after winning The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight tournament. As of July 12, 2023, he is #2 in the UFC featherweight rankings.[6]

Early life

Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo[1][2] was born and raised in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico to Rigoberto Rodríguez Olivas and Norma Alicia Portillo. Rodríguez started Taekwondo at age five.[7]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Rodríguez made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut on October 10, 2011, at Mexican Fighter Promotions 8, when he fought Jonatan Guzmán and won via unanimous decision.[8] On March 10, 2012, he fought Carlos Ricardo at The Supreme Cage Fighting 1. He won via third round submission (triangle choke). Rodríguez then fought Luis Roberto Herrera on December 12, 2012, at Mexican Fighter Promotions 13. He lost via first round knockout. Rodríguez next faced Édgar Juárez on February 16, 2013 at Mexican Fighter Promotions 14. He won the fight via first-round knockout. His final fight before he entered the UFC was against Angelo Durante on April 4, 2014, at NP: High Altitude Face Off 6. Rodríguez won the fight via arm-bar in round one.[9]

The Ultimate Fighter

In May 2014, it was revealed that Rodríguez would be a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, competing for "Team Velasquez".[10]

In his first fight on the show, Rodríguez defeated Humberto Brown in the quarterfinals via submission (triangle choke).[11] In the semifinals, Rodríguez defeated Rudolfo Rubio via submission (strikes) to reach the finals.[12]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rodríguez made his official UFC debut on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180, facing Leonardo Morales in The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight finals.[13] Rodríguez defeated Morales via unanimous decision to become the tournament winner.[14]

For his second fight with the promotion, Rodríguez faced Charles Rosa on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188.[15] He won the fight via split decision.[16] Rodríguez received his first Fight of the Night bonus award.[17]

Rodríguez faced Dan Hooker on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192.[18] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[19]

Rodríguez faced Andre Fili on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197.[20] He won the fight via knockout in the second round and was awarded his first Performance of the Night bonus.[21][22]

Rodríguez faced Alex Caceres on August 6, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 92.[23] He won the fight by split decision.[24] Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors.[25]

Rodríguez faced B.J. Penn on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103.[26] Rodríguez won the fight via TKO in the second round. Afterwards, he was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[27][28]

Rodríguez faced Frankie Edgar on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211.[29] He lost the fight via TKO (doctor stoppage) after the second round due to swelling on his left eye.[30]

On May 10, 2018, it was reported that Rodríguez was released from the UFC after allegedly declining two fights.[31][32] Three weeks later, Rodríguez announced that he and UFC officials worked out their differences and that he was back on the roster.[33]

Rodríguez was expected to face Zabit Magomedsharipov on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228.[34] However, Rodríguez pulled out of the fight on August 23 citing injury.[35]

In late October, Rodríguez agreed to replace Frankie Edgar and fight Chan Sung Jung on November 10, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 139, after Edgar withdrew due to injury.[36] Rodríguez won the fight by knockout via reverse elbow at 4:59 in the fifth round; the latest knockout in UFC history.[37][38] He was awarded the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.[39] The knockout went on to win accolades as the knockout of the year from many media sources.[40][41][42]

Rodríguez faced Jeremy Stephens on September 21, 2019, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 159.[43] The bout ended in a no contest just 15 seconds into the first round after Rodríguez accidentally swatted Stephens in the left eye, rendering him unable to continue.[44]

Rodríguez faced Jeremy Stephens in a rematch on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6.[45] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[46] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[47]

Rodríguez was scheduled to face Zabit Magomedsharipov on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 175.[48] However, Rodríguez pulled out with an ankle injury.[49]

On December 3, 2020, UFC anti-doping administrator USADA announced that Rodríguez had been suspended for 6 months, retroactive to September 8, for failing to notify USADA of his whereabouts and being unavailable for drug testing. He became eligible to resume fighting on March 8, 2021.[50]

Rodríguez was scheduled to face Max Holloway on July 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 26.[51] Rodríguez's return was delayed once more, as it was reported on June 17, 2021, that Holloway was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.[52][53] The bout was rescheduled on November 13, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 197.[54] Rodríguez lost the fight via unanimous decision.[55] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[56]

Rodríguez faced Brian Ortega on July 16, 2022, at UFC on ABC 3.[57] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one after Ortega suffered a dislocated shoulder, which rendered him unable to continue.[58]

Rodríguez faced Josh Emmett for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship on February 12, 2023, at UFC 284.[59] He won the fight and title via triangle choke submission in the second round.[60][61] The win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[62]

Rodríguez faced Alexander Volkanovski in a title unification bout for the UFC Featherweight Championship on July 8, 2023 at UFC 290.[63] He lost the fight via TKO in round three.[64]

Rodríguez is scheduled to face Brian Ortega in a rematch on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237.[65]

Personal life

Rodríguez has one brother and one sister. He is also a cousin of Olympic boxer Misael Rodríguez.[66]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
20 matches 15 wins 4 losses
By knockout 5 3
By submission 4 0
By decision 6 1
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 15–4 (1) Alexander Volkanovski TKO (punches) UFC 290 July 8, 2023 3 4:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For the UFC Featherweight Championship.
Win 15–3 (1) Josh Emmett Submission (triangle choke) UFC 284 February 12, 2023 2 4:19 Perth, Australia Won the interim UFC Featherweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
Win 14–3 (1) Brian Ortega TKO (shoulder injury) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez July 16, 2022 1 4:11 Elmont, New York, United States
Loss 13–3 (1) Max Holloway Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez November 13, 2021 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 13–2 (1) Jeremy Stephens Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman October 18, 2019 3 5:00 Boston, Massachusetts, United States Fight of the Night.
NC 12–2 (1) Jeremy Stephens NC (accidental eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens September 21, 2019 1 0:15 Mexico City, Mexico Accidental eye poke rendered Stephens unable to continue.
Win 12–2 Jung Chan-sung KO (elbow) UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez November 10, 2018 5 4:59 Denver, Colorado, United States Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night.
Loss 11–2 Frankie Edgar TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 211 May 13, 2017 2 5:00 Dallas, Texas, United States
Win 11–1 B.J. Penn TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn January 15, 2017 2 0:24 Phoenix, Arizona, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 10–1 Alex Caceres Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres August 6, 2016 5 5:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 9–1 Andre Fili KO (head kick) UFC 197 April 23, 2016 2 2:15 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 8–1 Dan Hooker Decision (unanimous) UFC 192 October 3, 2015 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States
Win 7–1 Charles Rosa Decision (split) UFC 188 June 13, 2015 3 5:00 Mexico City, Mexico Fight of the Night.
Win 6–1 Leonardo Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC 180 November 15, 2014 3 5:00 Mexico City, Mexico Won The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Featherweight Tournament.
Win 5–1 Angelo Duarte Submission (armbar) NP: High Altitude Face Off 6 April 4, 2014 1 2:12 Alamosa, Colorado, United States
Win 4–1 Édgar Juárez KO (flying knee) Mexican Fighter Promotions 14 February 16, 2013 1 0:13 Chihuahua, Mexico
Loss 3–1 Roberto Herrera KO (punches) Mexican Fighter Promotions 13 December 20, 2012 1 1:21 Chihuahua, Mexico
Win 3–0 Carlos Ricardo Submission (triangle choke) The Supreme Cage 1 March 10, 2012 3 0:50 Monterrey, Mexico
Win 2–0 Edgar Balderrama Submission (rear-naked choke) Jueves DIC 22 December 22, 2011 1 2:13 Chihuahua, Mexico
Win 1–0 Jonatan Guzmán Decision (unanimous) Mexican Fighter Promotions 8 October 10, 2011 3 3:00 Mexico City, Mexico

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2–0 Rodolfo Rubio Perez TKO (punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America September 24, 2014 (airdate) 1 3:55 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Semi-final round.
Win 1–0 Humberto Brown Morrison Submission (triangle choke) September 10, 2014 (airdate) 2 2:18 The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Quarterfinal round.

[73]

Pay-per-view bouts

No Event Fight Date Venue City PPV buys
1. UFC 290 Volkanovski vs. Rodríguez July 8, 2023 T-Mobile Arena Paradise, Nevada, United States Not Disclosed[74]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2014 The Ultimate Fighter Himself Television series
2016 UFC 200 Greatest Fighters of All Time Himself Television mini-series
2018 El Pantera Himself Documentary film

See also

References

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  2. 1 2 3 "Felicita Miguel Jurado a Yair Raziel "El Pantera" Rodríguez". El Sol de Parral. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  3. "Stats | UFC".
  4. "Yair Rodriguez | Stats". UFCstats.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  5. "Yair Rodriguez | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  7. Hernandez, Jose. "UFC 211: Yair Rodriguez - 2017 Is My Year". Youtube. UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  8. Thomas Gerbasi (2014-11-12). "Yair Rodriguez and the Start of Something Big". ufconfoxtel.com.
  9. Hernandez, Jose. "Yair Rodriguez". Sherdog.com. sherdog. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. Jesse Holland (2014-05-14). "The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): 'Latin America' cast revealed for 'Velasquez vs. Werdum'". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
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  12. Danny Downes (2014-10-21). "Episode Nine recap: The Ultimate Fighter Latin America". ufc.com. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
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  40. 1 2 "Sherdog.com's 2018 Knockout of the Year". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
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[1]

  1. Hernandez, Jose. "UFC 211: Yair Rodriguez - 2017 Is My Year". Youtube. UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
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