Yair Rodriguez defeated Patricio Pitbull to take a losing skid with two fights at UFC 314 on Saturday. If you had exclusively looked at the press conference before the fight of the event, however, you would be forgiven to suppose that Rodriguez and Diego Lopes were the two feather weights associated with collision. Born in Mexico, Rodriguez and the Lopes adopted by Mexico had an explosion on stage which resumed the procedure and required repeated security intervention to keep the duo at a distance.
Speaking on The “The Ariel Helwani Show” by Non-Couronne “ About the origins of surprise rivalry, Rodriguez explained that it was not his story to tell.
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“Each time the moment had just fought Diego, I will take care of this inside the octagon, as I am supposed to do for my friend (UFC veteran) Marco Beltrán,” said Rodriguez. “I told Marco,” Don't worry. I'm going to take care of that. I promise you, I'm going to beat him for you, guy. I promise you. “But in the right way.
Rodriguez pointed out several times to Beltrán, his friend and former teammate, as the real holder of the background between him and Lopes. But while the exchange of viral press conference was not planned, Rodriguez said, once the time had come, he just couldn't hold back.
“He wanted to emphasize that I came from a loss,” said Rodriguez about Lopes. “I'm going to repeat this to him – now it's he who comes from a defeat. He must win his possibility of fighting for the title or for affirmations. I am now the one who comes from a victory, and I deserve a title.
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“I was just excited in the moment because he mentioned that I came from a loss when I always remained respectful for him. Even in the past, we have taken a photo together, whatever, I'm cool with you. But I will not bear a lack of respect like that.
“I was ready to play cool, then he started to say:” Oh, he comes from two defeats “to say it. Why are you like that?” Rodriguez continued. “It's good, you know? Yeah, I came from two defeats. Now, I come from a victory, and I'm ready to fight for a title.”
Former UFC featherweight acting champion Rodriguez knows exactly what he wants after his victory in unanimous on Pitbull: a revenge match with the double champion Alexander Volkanovski.
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Rodriguez's performance against Pitbull was mainly one -way traffic While he separated Bellator's legend over 15 minutes. Rodriguez later said that he had promised a shot in the title with a victory, although the optics make a difficult sale since he had just lost a fight against Volkanovski there are two fights.
Volkanovski resumed his belt in the headliner of the UFC 314 with a victory over Lopes which left “El Pantera” without surprise by the clinical watch.
Rodriguez is convinced that he will take revenge against Volkanovski if they meet again.
“I am not impressed by Volk. Look, he is one of the greatest of all time. I expected it,” he said.
Yair Rodriguez thinks he should be next online for a title shooting at 145 pounds after spoiling the UFBULL UFC beginnings at UFC 314. (Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC)
(Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)
“I don't know if it's going to be in September (for a title) or before or after that, but Volkanovski, he said he wanted to do it. He is looking for the fight. 2025.”
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Rodriguez, 32, is in a place where he will really have to assert his file, in particular with n ° 4 and 19-0 Movsar Evloev directly in front of him. Evloev was undoubtedly the most worthy choice to compete in an inclination of the vacant title after the departure of Ilia Topuria from the division. Despite the place where they fall into hierarchical order, however, Rodriguez does not consider the UFC classification as a real factor.
“The only thing I can tell you is that a fight against Volkanovski makes sense to me,” said Rodriguez. “I don't want to talk about Movsar or something else. He is an incredible fighter, he is a dangerous opponent. He comes from a sequence of victories, but what I hear from the UFC, just come from a victory. Volkanovski and I had a background to fight for the belt.”
