The stakes could be quite high for Yair Rodriguez in the
UFC on ABC 3 main event this Saturday.
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During an appearance on “The MMA Hour,” Rodriguez revealed that promotion officials
have told him that a victory over Brian Ortega will earn him a
featherweight title shot against reigning champion Alexander
Volkanovski.
“Yes, that has been said to me,” Rodriguez said. “Yeah, that’s what
we’re looking for. First things first, I’m going to win this fight
and then give the champ some time to heal and yeah, go for it. For
now, let’s take it step by step, first things first, July 16, Brian
Ortega, that’s for now.”
Rodriguez hasn’t competed since UFC Fight Night 197, where he
dropped a five-round verdict to Max Holloway this past November.
The Mexican standout’s last victory came in October 2019, when he
outpointed Jeremy Stephens at UFC on ESPN 6. Still, it may be
possible that a victory over Ortega, a two-time title challenger,
would be enough to propel “El Pantera” into the No. 1 contender’s
spot.
“We didn’t want to fight each other unless we had to,” Rodriguez
said of Ortega. “Now this is an opportunity for both of us, and we
have to fight each other. As I’ve said before, it’s not the
opponent I wanted, but the opportunity I wanted. Here we are facing
each other with this big opportunity. It’s an important fight.”
If Rodriguez’s claim proves true, Josh Emmett would be the odd man
out. The Team Alpha Male product is coming off a win over Calvin
Kattar at UFC Austin, his fifth straight triumph within the Las
Vegas-based promotion. Emmett
lobbied for a title shot following the victory, saying the
division needs “new blood.”
For now, nothing is set in stone regarding the featherweight
division’s next No. 1 contender. Rodriguez believes the opportunity
could be his, and he has set his sights on a future date with
Volkanovski, who was dominant in a trilogy victory against Holloway
at UFC 276.
“He looked amazing,” Rodriguez said. “It was eye-opening for me,
and I better get ready for that if I want to be the champion. If I
want to be champion I’m going to have to put some work because he’s
tough. He’s really tough.”