Yair Rodriguez is a UFC fighter hailing from Mexico. After winning The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, Yair made his way to the UFC. Ever since, the 30-year-old has been a joy to watch, displaying great skill and precision in each of his fights.
Rodriguez made a strong start to his UFC career by winning six fights in a row. In his time with the UFC, Yair has collected wins over some notable names like Brian Ortega, Chan Sung Jung, and more. Despite facing some difficult lows in his personal life and the Octagon, Yair has made his way to the top.
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Currently, the Mexican fighter is one of the top contenders in the UFC’s featherweight division. Should he continue his good form, Yair could finally capture a UFC title and warrant a well-deserved showdown against Alexander Volkanovski.
With all that said, many have often wondered, why is Yair’s nickname, “El Pantera.” Let’s find out!
Yair Rodriguez nickname: Why is he called “El Pantera”?
Without a doubt, Yair is one of the most captivating and entertaining fighters the UFC has ever seen. Sporting a record of 15 wins and 3 losses, Yair is one of the most lethal yet creative strikers in the sport. As such, the Mexican is often seen throwing outrageous and spectacular kicks and combinations at his opponents.
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His movement and agility whilst performing these strikes are comparable to a panther, thus earning him the nickname “El Pantera” or The Panther. Most notably, showings of Yair’s panther-like movement and striking came against the likes of Dan Hooker, Jeremy Stephens, and Chan Sung Jung.
Having an entire arsenal of spinning kicks, overhead kicks, and elbows, Rodriguez has often been credited for his creativity and willingness to pull off high-risk maneuvers. Despite fighting in the UFC since 2014, many feel that they haven’t seen enough of El Pantera inside the Octagon.
For the most part, it is true as Yair only has 12 fights during his 8-year stint with the UFC. As such, a facial laceration against Frankie Edgar, COVID-19 problems, and a six-month suspension by USADA have seen Yair spend a lot of time away from fighting in the Octagon. To clarify, Yair never tested positive for illegal substances, he was suspended for failing to file his whereabouts to USADA.
However, it appears as though Yair is finally on the right track now. Despite a doctor’s stoppage victory over Brian Ortega, Yair will be in good form. After a commendable performance against Max Holloway, he has proved that he can scrap with the very best. Will his good form and striking be enough to win the interim title against Josh Emmett? Only time will tell.
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