Yair Rodriguez
Active 2014–present · rated in 5 editions · peak overall 85.0
Scouting report
Yair "El Pantera" Rodriguez knocked out Chan Sung Jung with an upward elbow at 4:59 of the fifth round, one of the latest finishes in UFC history, and later won the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship by submitting Josh Emmett. Born in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, Rodriguez uses jumping and spinning kicks drawn from a taekwondo background, reflected in a 93 Kickboxing rating and 88 Cardio.
Peak ratings
By edition
Rodriguez knocked out Andre Fili with a head kick at UFC 197, beat Alex Caceres in Salt Lake City, and stopped BJ Penn with punches in round two in Phoenix, before a doctor-stoppage loss to Frankie Edgar. His kicking arsenal and speed are reflected in a 90 Kickboxing and 80 Boxing.
In November 2018 at UFC Fight Night 139 in Denver, Rodriguez knocked out Chan Sung Jung with an upward elbow at 4:59 of round five, then beat Jeremy Stephens by decision in Boston in late 2019. His striking angles and stamina are reflected in a 92 Kickboxing and 88 Cardio.
Returning from a two-year layoff in November 2021 at UFC Fight Night 197 in Las Vegas, Rodriguez fought Max Holloway over five rounds and lost a unanimous decision. His kickboxing offense is reflected in a 92 Kickboxing and 84 Boxing score.
In February 2023 at UFC 284 in Perth, Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett with a second-round triangle choke to win the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship, then lost a title-unification bout to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 and a submission loss to Brian Ortega in Mexico City. His kicking threat and finishing ability anchor his 93 Kickboxing and 86 Boxing score.
Yair Rodriguez, the most inventive kicker at 145
Yair Rodriguez, called El Pantera, came from Parral, Chihuahua, and won The Ultimate Fighter Latin America. His fight against Chan Sung Jung ended with an upward elbow at 4:59 of the fifth round, one of the latest knockouts in the promotion's history. He later won the interim featherweight belt by submitting Josh Emmett and challenged Alexander Volkanovski, losing by stoppage in 2023. Jumping and spinning strikes are a normal part of his game.
Rodriguez rated across eight skills
Boxing. Very strong. His punches are sharp and set up the flashier attacks.
Kickboxing. His top rating. Spinning kicks, front kicks and elbows from odd angles.
Wrestling. His weakest number. He is not a wrestler.
BJJ. Good. He is dangerous from the back with scrambles and submissions.
Strength. A little below others in the pool.
Durability. Decent. He can take punishment and keep going.
Cardio. High. He was still throwing hard in round five of the Korean Zombie fight.
Fight IQ. Above average. He reads angles well and throws timely counters.
Kickboxing at 93 makes him unpredictable
He finishes with strikes that other fighters have not seen. The Chan Sung Jung knockout is the clearest case. He is at his best in a long fight, when patience and a good motor turn a slow round into a late finish.
Wrestling is the opening for opponents
At 72, Wrestling is his lowest rating. A strong wrestler can take him down and hold him there, where his kicks do not work. If you draft him, back him with someone who can stuff takedowns so his striking has room to work.
Keep exploring
Closest featherweight profiles to Yair Rodriguez, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Giga Chikadzebest kickboxing 94 · weakest bjj 72
- Edson Barbozabest kickboxing 94 · weakest bjj 74
- Cub Swansonbest boxing 86 · weakest wrestling 72
- Arnold Allenbest boxing 88 · weakest strength 80
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Yair Rodriguez's strongest attribute, Kickboxing.
Draft Yair Rodriguez into your build
Yair Rodriguez enters the pool on any spin landing on featherweight between 2016 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Yair Rodriguez is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Yair Rodriguez's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.