Yair Rodriguez is seemingly in the good graces of Dana White and the UFC now, but things weren’t always that way.
Rodriguez is currently a major topic in the mixed martial arts space amid talk of a potentially controversial shot at the featherweight title, which Alexander Volkanovski won by beating Diego Lopes at UFC 314.
The Mexican has competed in two title fights in recent years. Before losing to Volkanovski in their unification bout at UFC 290, Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett to win the interim belt.
But just a few years prior, ‘El Pantera’ looked like he may never compete in the UFC again, let alone for a championship.
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Dana White told Yair Rodriguez the UFC ‘isn’t the place’ for him after brief release
The former interim champion’s tenure on MMA’s biggest stage hasn’t always been smooth, and Rodriguez was even once released from the UFC.
The Mexican was cut in mid-2018 after allegedly turning down numerous fight offers after recovering from an injury, including one against the then-highly touted Zabit Magomedsharipov.
White expanded on the shock move during his post-fight press conference backstage at the UFC Fight Night in Liverpool.
“We offered him fights, he turned down the fights,” White said. “There was a lot more back and forth that went on with that. If you don’t want to fight, this isn’t the place to be.
“There’s plenty of places out there that will take Yair Rodriguez and would love to have him, and would sign him and I’m sure he’ll have a great career. This isn’t the place for you,” White added.
After only a few weeks in free agency, bridges were mended and Rodriguez found himself back under the UFC banner.
Yair Rodriguez now looks set to benefit from Dana White’s issues with another fighter
Fast forward a few years and Rodriguez remains high up the featherweight pecking order at No. 4.
The 32-year-old has been on a journey back towards the title after losing convincingly to Volkanovski in 2023. And despite only winning one of his two fights since, Rodriguez may already have a chance at redemption coming up.
After Volkanovski’s return to the throne, many were expecting the Australian to get his wish next. Volkanovski’s preference is Movsar Evloev, an undefeated contender who has won nine straight in the UFC.
But despite the Russian’s strong claim, it would appear that his fighting style and lack of finishes in the UFC could pave the way for Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez 2.
Evloev recently took to X to reveal that he’s accepted a different fight for UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26. That has sparked rumors of a title shot for Rodriguez, which is widely being branded as undeserved.
Harvey Leonard
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