Yair Rodriguez is apparently in the good greasings of Dana White and the UFC now, but things were not always the case.
Rodriguez is currently an important topic in the mixed martial arts space in the midst of talk about a potentially controversial chance of the featherweight title, which Alexander Volkanovski won by beating Diego Lopes on UFC 314.
The Mexican has participated in two title fights in recent years. Before he lost to Volkanovski in their unification fight on UFC 290, Rodriguez Josh Emmett submitted to win the interim belt.
But only a few years earlier, 'El Pantera' looked like he might never be able to compete in the UFC again, let alone for a championship.
Dana White told Yair Rodriguez that the UFC is 'not the place' for him after a short release
The term of office of the former interim champion on MMA's largest stage has not always been smooth and Rodriguez was even released from the UFC.
The Mexican was cut in mid -2018 after he reportedly rejected countless fighting offers after repairing an injury, including one against the then highly promoted Zabit Magomedsharipov.
White expanded the shock movement during his backstage after the press conference after the fight at the UFC Fight Night in Liverpool.
“We offered him fights, he turned the fights,” said White. “There was much more back and forth that it continued. If you don't want to fight, this is not the place to be.
“There are plenty of places that Yair Rodriguez will bring and would like him, and would sign him and I am sure he will have a great career. This is not the place for you,” White added.
After just a few weeks in the free desk, Bridges were restored and Rodriguez was back under the UFC banner.
Yair Rodriguez now seems to benefit from Dana White's problems with another hunter
Quick a few years and Rodriguez stays high on the featherweight pecking at number 4.
The 32-year-old is back to the title after he was convincingly lost against Volkanovski in 2023. And despite the fact that he has won only one of his two fights since then, Rodriguez may already have a chance of redemption.
After the return of Volkanovski to the throne, many expected the Australian to get his wish afterwards. The preference of Volkanovski is Movsar Evloev, an undefeated competition who has won nine right in the UFC.
But despite the strong claim of the Russian, it seems that his fighting style and lack of finishes in the UFC can pave the way for Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez 2.
Evloev recently went to X to reveal that he accepted another fight for UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26. That has led rumors about a title shot for Rodriguez, which is branded on a large scale as undeserved.