Yair Rodríguez

Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo

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. 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.

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".

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

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. Rodríguez defeated Morales via unanimous decision to become the tournament winner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. Rodríguez won the fight by knockout via reverse elbow at 4:59 in the fifth round; the latest knockout in UFC history. However this record would later be tied by Max Holloway against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He was awarded the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards. The knockout went on to win accolades as the knockout of the year from many media sources. 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.

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

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

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.

Rodríguez was scheduled to face Max Holloway on July 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 26. 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. The bout was rescheduled on November 13, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 197. Rodríguez lost the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

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

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

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

Rodríguez faced Brian Ortega in a rematch on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237. He lost in the third-round via arm-triangle choke submission.

Rodríguez was reportedly scheduled to face Diego Lopes on March 29, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 64. However, Lopes later denied the fight ever happened.

Rodríguez faced former Bellator Lightweight and Featherweight champion Patrício Pitbull on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Rodríguez was scheduled to face Jean Silva in the main event on September 12, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 288. However, Rodríguez withdrew from the fight due to an injury and was replaced by Jose Delgado.

Personal life Rodríguez has one brother and one sister. He is also a cousin of Olympic boxer Misael Rodríguez.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC Interim Featherweight Champion (One time) The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Tournament Winner Fight of the Night (Five times) Latest knockout in UFC history (4:59 in Round 5) vs. Chan Sung Jung UFC Honors Awards 2021: President's Choice Fight of the Year Nominee UFC.com Awards 2015: Ranked #7 Fight of the Year 2016: Ranked #4 Knockout of the Year 2018: Knockout of the Year & Ranked #3 Fight of the Year 2019: Ranked #10 Fight of the Year 2021: Ranked #3 Fight of the Year 2023: Ranked #7 Submission of the Year Mexican Fighters Promotions FMP Featherweight Championship (One time) ESPN 2018 Knockout of the Year Sherdog 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Jung Chan-sung MMA Fighting 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Jung Chan-sung MMA Junkie 2016 #3 Ranked Knockout of the Year 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Jung Chan-sung 2019 October Fight of the Month vs. Jeremy Stephens Combat Press 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Jung Chan-sung Cageside Press 2018 Knockout of the Year MMADNA.nl 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Jung Chan-sung Bleacher Report 2018 Fight of the Year 2018 Knockout of the Year 2018 UFC Knockout of the Year MMA Sucka 2018 Knockout of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Patrício Pitbull Decision (unanimous) UFC 314

Miami, Florida, United States Loss

Brian Ortega Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2

Mexico City, Mexico Loss

Alexander Volkanovski TKO (punches) UFC 290

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Josh Emmett Submission (triangle choke) UFC 284

Perth, Australia Win

Brian Ortega TKO (shoulder injury) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez

Elmont, New York, United States Loss

Max Holloway Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jeremy Stephens Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman

Boston, Massachusetts, United States NC

Jeremy Stephens NC (accidental eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Jung Chan-sung KO (elbow) UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez

Denver, Colorado, United States Loss

Frankie Edgar TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 211

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

B.J. Penn TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Alex Caceres Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Andre Fili KO (head kick) UFC 197

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Dan Hooker Decision (unanimous) UFC 192

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Charles Rosa Decision (split) UFC 188

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Leonardo Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC 180

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Angelo Duarte Submission (armbar) Nemesis Promotions: High Altitude Face Off 6

Alamosa, Colorado, United States Win

Édgar Juárez KO (flying knee) Mexican Fighters Promotions 14

Ciudad Jiménez, Mexico Loss

Luis Roberto Herrera KO (punches) Mexican Fighters Promotions 13

Chihuahua City, Mexico Win

Ricardo Alcala KO (knee) Mexican Fighters Promotions 11

Chihuahua City, Mexico Win

Carlos Ricardo Submission (triangle choke) The Supreme Cage 1

Monterrey, Mexico Win

Luis Roberto Herrera Submission (rear-naked choke) Mexican Fighters Promotions 10

Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico Win

Edgar Balderrama Submission (rear-naked choke) Mexican Fighters Promotions 9

Chihuahua City, Mexico Win

Jonatan Guzmán Decision (unanimous) Mexican Fighters Promotions 8

Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico Win

Willie Martinez TKO (punches) Mexican Fighters Promotions 7

Chihuahua City, Mexico Win

Luis Daniel Gonzalez KO (flying switch kick and punches) Mexican Fighters Promotions 5

Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico Mixed martial arts exhibition record Win

Rodolfo Rubio Perez TKO (punches)

(airdate)

Win

Humberto Brown Morrison Submission (triangle choke) (airdate)

Pay-per-view bouts

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