Yair Rodriguez

BIOGRAPHY

Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo, a renowned Mexican professional mixed martial artist, was born on October 6, 1992, in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, to parents Rigoberto Rodríguez Olivas and Norma Alicia Portillo. Starting his journey in Taekwondo at the age of five, Rodríguez embarked on a successful career in martial arts.

Entering the professional mixed martial arts (MMA) arena on October 10, 2011, with a win, Rodríguez experienced his first loss the following year. However, his undismayed spirit led to a successful next fight. Before transitioning to his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career, his final match was against Angelo Durante on April 4, 2014, winning via an arm-bar in round one.

In May 2014, Rodríguez joined the cast of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, representing “Team Velasquez”. Delivering impressive performances, he ultimately secured his spot in the finals by defeating Rudolfo Rubio. His official UFC debut match, where he won the tournament, was against Leonardo Morales on November 15, 2014.

Following his debut, Rodríguez commenced a series of victories against renowned fighters such as Charles Rosa, Dan Hooker, Andre Fili, Alex Caceres, and B.J. Penn, earning several awards. His only defeat in this period was from Frankie Edgar in May 2017. This string of victories led to his former status as the Interim UFC Featherweight Champion.

However, due to some contractual disagreements, Rodríguez was temporarily freed from UFC in May 2018. He returned later, after smoothing out the differences, to face opponents such as Zabit Magomedsharipov, Chan Sung Jung, and Jeremy Stephens, producing several awe-inspiring fights.

Despite an unfortunate suspension from the UFC in December 2020 for failing to notify USADA about his whereabouts and for missing drug tests, Rodríguez resumed his MMA career in March 2021. Overcoming adversity and interruptions, he returned to the ring to compete against elite fighters such as Max Holloway and Brian Ortega in 2021-22.

His match against Josh Emmett on February 12, 2023, for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship, saw him secure the title via a second-round triangle choke submission. This win garnered him the prestigious Performance of the Night award.

His next important match, a title unification bout against Alexander Volkanovski on July 8, 2023, ended disappointingly with his loss via TKO.

Undeterred, Rodríguez is currently slated for a rematch against Brian Ortega on February 24, 2024. This illustrious career in the UFC Featherweight division and persistent endeavor to improve propelled Rodríguez to #2 in the UFC featherweight rankings, as of July 12, 2023.

Outside his demanding career, Rodríguez has two siblings and is also related to Olympic boxer Misael Rodríguez. His journey is marked with determination, resilience, and an innate ability to overcome adversity, making Yair Rodríguez an inspiration within the MMA sphere.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What Is Yair Rodriguez's Record?
Yair Rodriguez's record is 16-4-0 with 1 No Contest.

Who Will Yair Rodriguez Fight Next?
As a UFC journalist, I currently don't have specific information on who Yair Rodriguez is scheduled to fight next.

Who Is Yair Rodriguez In UFC?
Yair Rodriguez is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist competing in the Featherweight division of the UFC, and is a former Interim UFC Featherweight Champion.

What Is The Height Of Yair Rodriguez?
Yair Rodriguez stands at a height of 5′ 11″.

Who Won The Fight Between Yair Rodriguez And Max Holloway?
Max Holloway won the fight against Yair Rodriguez by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on November 13, 2021.

Who Won The Fight Between Yair Rodriguez And Korean Zombie?
Yair Rodriguez won the fight against the Korean Zombie in the UFC.

Does Yair Rodriguez Have A Belt In UFC?
As of July 5, 2023, Yair Rodriguez does not hold a title belt in UFC, but owns a custom belt that was gifted to him.

What Is Yair Rodriguez's Reach?
Yair Rodriguez has a reach of 71 inches.