Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo (born October 6, 1992) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist.
He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Featherweight Champion.
2011
Rodríguez made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut on October 10, 2011, at Mexican Fighter Promotions 8, when he fought Jonatan Guzmán and won via unanimous decision.
2012
On March 10, 2012, he fought Carlos Ricardo at The Supreme Cage Fighting 1.
He won via third round submission (triangle choke).
Rodríguez then fought Luis Roberto Herrera on December 12, 2012, at Mexican Fighter Promotions 13.
He lost via first round knockout.
2013
Rodríguez next faced Édgar Juárez on February 16, 2013 at Mexican Fighter Promotions 14.
He won the fight via first-round knockout.
2014
Rodríguez has been with the UFC since 2014 after winning The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight tournament.
As of February 27, 2024, he is #4 in the UFC featherweight rankings.
Yair Raziel Rodríguez Portillo was born and raised in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico to Rigoberto Rodríguez Olivas and Norma Alicia Portillo.
Rodríguez started Taekwondo at age five.
His final fight before he entered the UFC was against Angelo Durante on April 4, 2014, at NP: High Altitude Face Off 6.
Rodríguez won the fight via arm-bar in round one.
In May 2014, it was revealed that Rodríguez would be a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, competing for "Team Velasquez".
In his first fight on the show, Rodríguez defeated Humberto Brown in the quarterfinals via submission (triangle choke).
In the semifinals, Rodríguez defeated Rudolfo Rubio via submission (strikes) to reach the finals.
Rodríguez made his official UFC debut on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180, facing Leonardo Morales in The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight finals.
Rodríguez defeated Morales via unanimous decision to become the tournament winner.
2015
For his second fight with the promotion, Rodríguez faced Charles Rosa on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188.
He won the fight via split decision.
Rodríguez received his first Fight of the Night bonus award.
Rodríguez faced Dan Hooker on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192.
He won the fight via unanimous decision.
2016
Rodríguez faced Andre Fili on April 23, 2016, at UFC 197.
He won the fight via knockout in the second round and was awarded his first Performance of the Night bonus.
Rodríguez faced Alex Caceres on August 6, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 92.
He won the fight by split decision.
Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors''.
''
2017
Rodríguez faced B.J. Penn on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103.
Rodríguez won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Afterwards, he was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
Rodríguez faced Frankie Edgar on May 13, 2017, at UFC 211.
He lost the fight via TKO (doctor stoppage) after the second round due to swelling on his left eye.
2018
On May 10, 2018, it was reported that Rodríguez was released from the UFC after allegedly declining two fights.
Three weeks later, Rodríguez announced that he and UFC officials worked out their differences and that he was back on the roster.
Rodríguez was expected to face Zabit Magomedsharipov on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228.
However, Rodríguez pulled out of the fight on August 23 citing injury.
