Yair Rodriguez Promised Featherweight Title Fight if Successful vs. Brian Ortega

By Rami J. Hanna Last updated Jul 11, 2022

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 15: (R-L) Yair Rodriguez of Mexico kicks BJ Penn in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 15, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“El Pantera” could be looking at his first UFC title fight if he can come out with the win this weekend.

Yair Rodriguez is set to do battle vs. Brian Ortega in Long Island this weekend for UFC on ABC 3. The Featherweights will headline a 5-round fight and after Rodriguez was a guest on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour show, he let it be known that a win over “T-City” could lead to a shot at UFC gold.

Yair Rodriguez tells @arielhelwani that he's been told he's getting a title shot if he defeats Brian Ortega this Saturday. #TheMMAHour
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) July 11, 2022

Another Featherweight contender who was looking for the next crack at the title is Josh Emmett, he won’t be a fan of this news and with the champion Alexander Volkanovski out for the next 12 weeks following hand surgery in his dominant decision win over Max Holloway, if the plans are made right. We could be seeing the champion defend 2 more times before he moves up to Lightweight.

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