Far be it from me to begrudge a guy talking his way into a money fight, but Yair Rodriguez seems to have done a little shopping in Mexico City at the Mercado Sonora, where the more superstitious folks south of the border go to buy elixirs and potions and herbs and such used in casting spells on their comrades. That’s the only thing that could explain why anyone outside of the Yair Rodgriguez household could be taking seriously the idea that he should fight Alex Volkanovski at Noche UFC in Guadalajara.
After earning a decision against still-interesting-but-past-his-sell-by-date Patricio Pitbull, Yair is now 1-2 in his last three fights, after Brian Ortega and Volk himself less both abused him like a rented burro. Those ain’t “earned a title shot” statistics and we all know it. The only reason it’s being discussed is because Noche UFC is in Mexico this year, and Yair’s from Mexico, so yay, Mexican fighter in a title fight! Yay!
No. Despite Yair not earning it, elephant-in-the-room Movsar Evloev is still sitting right here in the room, undefeated at 19-0 with his last three wins against Aljo, Arnold Allen and Diego Lopes. C’mon. We’re really gonna consider giving this man’s well-earned title shot to Yair just because of where the fight is happening? Good lord, I hope not.
Not only that, but there’s yet ANOTHER elephant in the room, and his name is Diego Lopes. Nobody knew it until the UFC 314 press conference, but these two have serious beef that almost brought them to blows multiple times both during and after that event. Yair vs Lopes, then, is the obvious match to make. Yair and Lopes will be right next to each other when the new rankings come out. Yair is Mexican, Lopes lives and trains in Mexico. And bonus, they hate each other. Need I say more?
Volk vs. Evloev main event, Lopes vs Yair on the co-main. Draw it up.
