Yair Rodriguez News
Yair Rodriguez, Jeremy Stephens to collide in Mexico City
Tom Taylor - July 26, 2019
Two of the UFC featherweight division’s most exciting fighters are reportedly set to collide when the UFC returns to Mexico City on September 21. According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Mexico’s own Yair Rodriguez will battle knockout puncher Jeremy Stephens on the card. Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens is set for the Sept. 21 card in Mexico City, according to multiple sources.
Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega are both slated to return at UFC Mexico
Cole Shelton - July 5, 2019
Two ranked featherweights will be fighting at UFC Mexico, but maybe not each other. Both Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega will fight on the card according to UFC president Dana White. “He will, Yair Rodriguez will fight in Mexico City. Yeah, he (Brian Ortega) will too,” White said at the summer press conference.
UFC rankings update: Yair Rodriguez, Germaine de Randamie surge up, retired Neil Seery appears at 125
James Lynch - November 13, 2018
The UFC rankings have been updated after an entertaining card last Saturday in Denver, Colorado. Following one of the best knockouts in UFC history, Yair Rodriguez jumped four spots in the featherweight division, and is now sitting at #11. His opponent “Korean Zombie” Chang Sung Jung fell two spots to #12, while Alexander Volkanovski (who is slated to face Chad Mendes at UFC 232) moved up one spot to #10. Meanwhile in the women’s bantamweight division, Germaine de Randamie reminded her fellow 135-pound fighters that she is here to stay after dominant performance over Raquel Pennington. “Iron Lady” moved up three spots to #2, just behind Holly Holm and current champion Amanda Nunes.
VIDEO | Joe Rogan reacts to Yair Rodriguez knocking out The Korean Zombie
Christopher Taylor - November 12, 2018
Joe Rogan may not have been in attendance at UFC Denver, but he did get to watch Yair Rodriguez score a spectacular last-second knockout victory over The Korean Zombie. The featherweight standouts, Yair Rodriguez and Chan Sung Jung, went to war in the headliner of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 139 event in Denver.
PHOTO | The Korean Zombie and Yair Rodriguez shake hands in hospital beds
Chris Taylor - November 11, 2018
UFC featherweight standouts The Korean Zombie and Yair Rodriguez went to war in last night’s UFC Fight Night 139 main event in Denver. Chan Sung Jung appeared to have won three of the opening four rounds which had produced twenty-minutes of heart pounding action.
Yair Rodriguez issues statement following his spectacular win at UFC Denver
Christopher Taylor - November 11, 2018
UFC featherweight Yair Rodriguez was involved in what can only be described as “one of the greatest fights in UFC history” last night in Denver. It was only fitting that his epic five-round war with The Korean Zombie headlined the promotions 25th anniversary event.
Zabit Magomedsharipov calls out Yair Rodriguez after UFC Denver
Tom Taylor - November 11, 2018
On Saturday night, in the main event of the UFC’s 25th anniversary show in Denver, Colorado, Mexican featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez authored one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history, putting fan favorite Korean contender Chan Sung Jung down with an elbow with just one second left in their five-round battle. With this win, Yair Rodriguez re-established himself as one of the top contenders in the crowded UFC featherweight division, and as a dangerous test for pretty much any of his rivals. That being said, there is one featherweight who is chomping at the bit to fight him: Dagestan’s Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Dana White reacts to Yair Rodriguez's KO of Chan Sung Jung
Tom Taylor - November 11, 2018
There was a time, not all that long ago, when UFC President Dana White was moving to cut Mexican featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez from the promotion’s roster. Now, he’s crediting Rodriguez with the “craziest knockout ever.” The knockout in question occurred on Saturday night, in the main event of the UFC’s 25th anniversary show in Denver, when Yair Rodriguez stepped into the cage with fan favorite Korean star Chan Sung Jung — better known as The Korean Zombie.
UFC Denver Results: Yair Rodriguez KO's The Korean Zombie (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - November 10, 2018
Featherweights headlined tonight’s historic UFC Fight Night 139 event in Denver as “The Korean Zombie” squared off with Yair Rodriguez. Jung was initially slated to face former lightweight title holder Frankie Edgar at tonight’s UFC Denver event, but “The Answer” was forced to pullout due to injury.
UFC Denver Results: Korean Zombie vs. Yair Rodriguez
Chris Taylor - November 10, 2018
Stay glued to bjpenn.com this evening for all of tonight’s UFC Denver Results. The event, UFC Fight Night 139, will serve as the promotions 25th anniversary show.
BREAKING | Frankie Edgar out of UFC Denver main event, Yair Rodriguez to step in vs Chan Sung Jung
Cole Shelton - October 26, 2018
UFC Denver has shaped up to be a great card. In the co-main event, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is set to take on Mike Perry. While in the main event Franke Edgar was set to fight Chan Sung Jung, but better known as “The Korean Zombie”. However, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Edgar is out due to an injury. While featherweight prospect Yair Rodriguez will step in on short notice.
Yair Rodriguez teases upcoming return to training, calls out Zabit Magomedsharipov
Thomas Taylor - September 12, 2018
Originally, Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez was expected to return to the cage opposite Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC 228 last Saturday. Unfortunately, Rodriguez was forced out of this contest with an injury, and replaced by Brandon Davis, who Magomedsharipov submitted with an incredible kneebar. Shortly after he submitted Davis, Zabit Magomedsharipov called for a fight with three-time UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes, who recently returned from a long hiatus with a first-round stoppage of Myles Jury. Apparently, however, the Russian star is still very much in the crosshairs of Yair Rodriguez.
Report | Yair Rodriguez out of UFC 228 fight with Zabit Magomedsharipov
Tom Taylor - August 23, 2018
Bad news, fight fans. The injury bug has taken a big bite out of UFC 228. According to a report from MMA Brasil, all-action featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez has sustained an injury which has forced him out of his main card showdown with surging Russian contender Zabit Magomedsharipov. According to this report, the UFC is seeking a replacement opponent for Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Despite reconciliation with Yair Rodriguez, Dana White says more fighters will be cut for turning down fights
Tom Taylor - June 5, 2018
Last month, the UFC caused a tidal wave of controversy by cutting highly-regarded featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez, citing the fact that he had allegedly turned down consecutive fights with Ricardo Lamas and Zabit Magomedsharipov as the reason. In the end, of course, Rodriguez and the UFC were able to patch things up, and the Mexican featherweight is now expected to battle Magomedsharipov at UFC 228 this September. All the same, UFC President Dana White assures that, should any other fighters turn down multiple bout offers in the future, they can expect similar treatment.
Yair Rodriguez confirms he is back with the UFC and will return to action on September 8
Chris Taylor - June 2, 2018
Yair Rodriguez is back with the UFC! The featherweight standout confirmed the news earlier today on Twitter, this following an initial report from ESPN on Friday afternoon.
Report | Yair Rodriguez and UFC squash beef, Zabit Magomedsharipov fight targeted for UFC 228
Tom Taylor - June 1, 2018
Earlier this month, Dana White and the UFC made the extremely controversial choice to cut red-hot featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez. The reason, we were told, was that Rodriguez had turned down bouts with Ricardo Lamas and Zabit Magomedsharipov — apparently a major no-no. While there was briefly talk of Yair Rodriguez moving to South American MMA powerhouse Combate Americas, it now sounds as though he and the UFC have made amends. Better still, it sounds like he’ll fight Zabit Magomedsharipov at UFC 228 this September.
Combate Americas withdraws offer to Yair Rodriguez, won't sign UFC veteran
Tom Taylor - May 25, 2018
When the UFC made the shocking decision to cut Yair Rodriguez earlier this month, the expectation was that he would find another home quite quickly — potentially with South American MMA powerhouse Combate Americas. Apparently, Combate Americas was initially interested in signing Rodriguez, and quickly offered him a deal that is said to be more lucrative than his last in the UFC. According to MMAMania, however, the promotion has since rescinded its offer.
Yair Rodriguez details the lead up to his release from the UFC
Drake Riggs - May 21, 2018
When news broke earlier this month that young featherweight prospect, Yair Rodriguez had been cut from the UFC, the MMA world was surprised, to say the least. The 10-2 Ultimate Fighter: Latin America winner, Rodriguez last fought in May of last year when he suffered his first UFC loss to former lightweight champion and perennial top featherweight, Frankie Edger.