# Yair Rodríguez

Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo (born October 6, 1992) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Featherweight Champion. Rodríguez has been with the UFC since 2014 after winning The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight tournament. As of December 10, 2024, he is #5 in the UFC featherweight rankings.

## Early life

Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo was born and raised in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico to Rigoberto Rodríguez Olivas and Norma Alicia Portillo. Rodríguez started Taekwondo at age five.

## 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.
Rodríguez faced Jeremy Stephens on September 21, 2019, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 159. 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 is scheduled to face former Bellator Lightweight and Featherweight champion Patrício Pitbull on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314.

## 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) vs. Charles Rosa, Alex Caceres, Chan Sung Jung, Jeremy Stephens and Max Holloway
** Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. Andre Fili, B.J. Penn, Chan Sung Jung and Josh Emmett
*** Tied (Jung Chan-sung) for third most post-fight bonuses in UFC Featherweight division history (9)
** 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 vs. Max Holloway
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2016: Ranked #4 Knockout of the Year vs. Andre Fili
*** 2018: Knockout of the Year & Ranked #3 Fight of the Year vs. Jung Chan-sung
*** 2019: Ranked #10 Fight of the Year vs. Jeremy Stephens 2
*** 2021: Ranked #3 Fight of the Year vs. Max Holloway
*** 2023: Ranked #7 Submission of the Year vs. Josh Emmett
* Mexican Fighters Promotions
** FMP Featherweight Championship (One time)
* Sherdog.com
** 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Chan Sung Jung
* MMA Fighting
** 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Chan Sung Jung
* MMAJunkie.com
** 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Chan Sung Jung
** 2019 October Fight of the Month vs. Jeremy Stephens
* CombatPress.com
** 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Chan Sung Jung
* MMADNA.nl
** 2018 Knockout of the Year vs. Chan Sung Jung

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 25 matches | 19 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 3 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 19–5 (1) | Brian Ortega | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 | February 24, 2024 | 3 | 0:58 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Loss | 19–4 (1) | Alexander Volkanovski | TKO (punches) | UFC 290 | July 8, 2023 | 3 | 4:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–3 (1) | Josh Emmett | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC 284 | February 12, 2023 | 2 | 4:19 | Perth, Australia | Won the interim UFC Featherweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–3 (1) | Brian Ortega | TKO (shoulder injury) | UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez | July 16, 2022 | 1 | 4:11 | Elmont, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 17–3 (1) | Max Holloway | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez | November 13, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 17–2 (1) | Jeremy Stephens | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman | October 18, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| NC | 16–2 (1) | Jeremy Stephens | NC (accidental eye poke) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | September 21, 2019 | 1 | 0:15 | Mexico City, Mexico | Accidental eye poke rendered Stephens unable to continue. |
| Win | 16–2 | Jung Chan-sung | KO (elbow) | UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | November 10, 2018 | 5 | 4:59 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 15–2 | Frankie Edgar | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 211 | May 13, 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 15–1 | B.J. Penn | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn | January 15, 2017 | 2 | 0:24 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14–1 | Alex Caceres | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres | August 6, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 13–1 | Andre Fili | KO (head kick) | UFC 197 | April 23, 2016 | 2 | 2:15 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–1 | Dan Hooker | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 192 | October 3, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Charles Rosa | Decision (split) | UFC 188 | June 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | Leonardo Morales | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 180 | November 15, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | Return to Featherweight. Won The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Featherweight Tournament. |
| Win | 9–1 | Angelo Duarte | Submission (armbar) | Nemesis Promotions: High Altitude Face Off 6 | April 4, 2014 | 1 | 2:12, | Alamosa, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Édgar Juárez | KO (flying knee) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 14 | February 16, 2013 | 1 | 0:19 | Ciudad Jiménez, Mexico | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 7–1 | Luis Roberto Herrera | KO (punches) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 13 | December 20, 2012 | 1 | 1:21 | Chihuahua City, Mexico | Lost the FMP Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Ricardo Alcala | KO (knee) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 11 | May 25, 2012 | 1 | 0:20 | Chihuahua City, Mexico | Defended the FMP Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Carlos Ricardo | Submission (triangle choke) | The Supreme Cage 1 | March 10, 2012 | 3 | 0:50 | Monterrey, Mexico | |
| Win | 5–0 | Luis Roberto Herrera | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 10 | March 3, 2012 | 2 | 2:200 | Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico | |
| Win | 4–0 | Edgar Balderrama | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 9 | December 22, 2011 | 1 | 2:13 | Chihuahua City, Mexico | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jonatan Guzmán | Decision (unanimous) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 8 | September 17, 2011 | 5 | 3:00 | Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico | Won the FMP Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Willie Martinez | TKO (punches) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 7 | July 30, 2011 | 3 | 2:22 | Chihuahua City, Mexico | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Luis Daniel Gonzalez | KO (flying switch kick and punches) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 5 | January 29, 2011 | 1 | 1:37 | Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico | Bantamweight debut. |

### Mixed martial arts exhibition record

| Exhibition record breakdown | Exhibition record breakdown | |
| 2 matches | 2 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 2–0 | Rodolfo Rubio Perez | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America | September 24, 2014 (airdate) | 1 | 3:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Semi-final round. |
| Win | 1–0 | Humberto Brown Morrison | Submission (triangle choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America | September 10, 2014 (airdate) | 2 | 2:18 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America Quarterfinal round. |

## Pay-per-view bouts

| No | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV buys |
| 1. | UFC 290 | Volkanovski vs. Rodríguez | July 8, 2023 | T-Mobile Arena | Paradise, Nevada, United States | Not Disclosed |

## 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 |