March 26, 2025 10:00 pm ET
Jon Anik thinks Yair Rodriguez isn’t talked about sufficient forward of UFC 314.
Rodriguez (15-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) welcomes two-division Bellator champion Patricio Freire (36-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon in the principle card opener of the April 12 occasion at Kaseya Heart in Miami (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN/Disney+, ESPN+).
Anik is worked up for Freire to compete underneath the UFC banner, however heaped reward on Rodriguez, who since capturing the interim featherweight title with a submission of Josh Emmett, has misplaced two straight. The UFC’s play-by-play commentator thinks regardless of Rodriguez’s skid, he doesn’t get sufficient credit score.
“I’ve extra intel for you, although, on the opposite man, Yair Rodriguez, who’s simply fully dialed in,” Anik instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “Group Valle Move has simply received one thing happening. They’ve received two champions underneath that roof, the emergence of Ignacio Bahamondes, and the very best man, probably the most naturally proficient man skill-for-skill is Yair Rodriguez.
“When you concentrate on how a lot he’s already completed, the interim championship clearly, you don’t take into consideration a few of the ebbs and flows, the maturation, the event, and also you don’t essentially give him the good thing about the doubt.”
Anik made a daring prediction about Rodriguez’s future.
“I believe it stands to purpose that Yair Rodriguez, type of a forgotten man at ’45, might go on and grow to be undisputed featherweight champion,” Anik continued. “I do know you guys know, when he’s on, he’s a large drawback. It’s best to hear the way in which Belal Muhammad talks about this man: Quicker than the eyes can monitor.”
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