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Following an inactive year in 2020, UFC featherweight Yair Rodriguez says he is looking to return to competition as soon as possible — against the highest-ranked opponent he can get.
Rodriguez (13-2) has not fought since he defeated Jeremy Stephens in October 2019. He was scheduled to fight Zabit Magomedsharipov last August, but was forced to withdraw from the bout with an ankle injury. Rodriguez was also suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) from September to March, due to a whereabouts violation.
The 28-year-old Mexican said he’s been able to spin the time off into a positive, as he feels completely healthy and mentally prepared for an active second half in 2021. He is currently in New Mexico right now, training alongside UFC welterweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who faces Diego Sanchez on May 8.
“I’ve been in contact sports since I was 5 years old,” Rodriguez told ESPN. “I think at some point, my body was going to go through something like this, injury or something. I’ve never went through an injury like that before. I think it’s been good for me to let my body heal and my mind heal.
“In an ideal scenario, I would like to face the champion, right? That’s the fight everybody wants. But from there, just going back in the rankings. I would take it as they come. I want the champion. If not, the No. 1-ranked guy. If not, No. 2. If not, No. 3. At this point, it doesn’t matter who I fight, because winning my fight would mean fighting for a title next. So, to be honest, I’m here to fight anybody.”
Current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is expected to defend his title against Brian Ortega later this year. As far as the UFC’s official rankings, that leaves only Max Holloway as a potential opponent ranked higher than Rodriguez, who is currently No. 3. Magomedsharipov is currently unranked, presumably due to inactivity.
Holloway (22-6) is deserving of a title shot now, but it’s uncertain how long he’ll have to wait for the opportunity. Magomedsharipov does not have a fight scheduled. Rodriguez would be happy with either.
“[Magomedsharipov] was talking a lot of crap, saying I didn’t want to fight him and I was faking injuries and stuff like that,” Rodriguez said. “Nobody does that. We’re all here to fight anybody at any point. I’m sure I’ll fight him at some point, no matter what. This is a fight that has to happen. I’m f—ing dying to fight him with all the crap he’s talking about. His moment will come.
“Bro, Max Holloway, that is big words right there. I think that would be amazing. Max has earned all my respect, since I started fighting, before I got to the UFC. He is one of the best pound-for-pound in history. Who wouldn’t like to fight him? That’s how I see it. I would love to face him at some point, it would be amazing for my career and it would make my career grow.”