Fast-rising prospect Yair Rodriguez was on his way to becoming the UFC’s next big name. After an impressive UFC run that was showcased by a decisive second-round TKO victory over two-weight world champion B.J. Penn, the 25-year-old fighter even aimed to surpass Canelo Alvarez and become Mexico’s ultimate combat sports superstar.
Rodriguez’s winning ways came to a halt at UFC 211 last May, when he was dominated and stopped by former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in the second round. In a recent interview with ESPN, Rodriguez attributed this loss to the pressure and expectations that were set for him.
”I couldn’t handle the pressure. It exploded. I was being really hard on myself,” Rodriguez said. “I was becoming crazy, honestly. It was weird stuff.”
”I wasn’t listening to my coaches. I was getting mad at training,” he said, referring to his camp in preparation for the Edgar fight. “I thought I was right about certain stuff. I think during the process of growing and becoming a star, you just stop trusting a lot of people. I started putting myself in a bubble and it really affected me.”
Rodriguez has since decided to move to Las Vegas to train full-time and is now looking to face a ranked opponent sometime within the year. And even with the disappointing loss to Edgar, the young fighter still believes he is one of the names to watch out for in the UFC’s 145-pound division.
”I just fought Frankie Edgar, who is next to fight for the title,” Rodriguez said. “That means something. I was on a six-fight win streak before that.”
”I want to be the f–king best, and I will show it. I am confident. People around me, who have seen me train, they will tell you. I’m not a f–king joke.”
Rodriguez currently holds a win-loss slate of 10-2 (with five wins via stoppage).