Yair Rodriguez defeated Patricio Pitbull at UFC 314, expressed his desire for a rematch with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, and addressed his ongoing feud with Diego Lopes, prioritizing his focus on the title fight despite their animosity.
Yair Rodriguez’s fight week? Oh boy, it was anything but smooth sailing. He was set to face Patricio Pitbull at UFC 314 on Saturday. After dispatching Pitbull, he boldly called for a shot at the featherweight title. Alexander Volkanovski snagged that title later in the evening. But wait, there’s more—Diego Lopes enters the scene.
Rodriguez and Lopes both hail from Mexico, and their rivalry is no secret. Tensions flared at Thursday’s pre-fight presser in Miami. Words were exchanged, and security had to step in.
Post-fight, Rodriguez faced questions about his beef with Lopes versus a rematch with Volkanovski. “In the eyes of the fans, sure,” Rodriguez admitted. “But right now? The beef can wait.”
His focus? That belt. The rematch with Volkanovski is what he’s gunning for. “When the time comes, we’ll talk more,” he said, eyeing a title fight in Guadalajara.
Rodriguez snapped a two-fight losing streak with his win over Pitbull. A former Bellator champ, Pitbull brought serious credentials to the cage. Rodriguez believes this victory earns him another shot at Volkanovski.
Volkanovski bested Rodriguez in their first meeting at UFC 290 in July 2023. A loss Rodriguez is eager to avenge. Still, he promises fans the Lopes saga isn’t over yet.
“It has to happen,” Rodriguez insisted. He shared a promise with his friend Marco Beltran: “I got this one for you.” Despite attempts to keep things civil with Lopes, tensions boiled over at the press conference.
“I was like, ‘You know what? That’s it.’ Enough is enough,” Rodriguez declared.
The exact issues between him and Lopes remain murky. It’s not just personal; it’s team-related too. Lopes defeated Rodriguez’s teammate Marco Beltran back in 2019, fueling the fire.
Adding complexity to Rodriguez’s situation is Volkanovski’s previous win over him. Matchmakers might have other plans, but Rodriguez remains hopeful for a spot at UFC 320 in Guadalajara.
“Volkanovski has fought everywhere,” Rodriguez noted. “Not in Mexico though.” He thinks Guadalajara is perfect for a major event—and for running it back with Volkanovski.