Jon Anik thinks Yair Rodriguez isn’t talked about enough ahead 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 main card opener of the April 12 event at Kaseya Center in Miami (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN/Disney+, ESPN+).
Anik is excited for Freire to compete under the UFC banner, but heaped praise on Rodriguez, who since capturing the interim featherweight title with a submission of Josh Emmett, has lost two straight. The UFC’s play-by-play commentator thinks despite Rodriguez’s skid, he doesn’t get enough credit.
“I have more intel for you, though, on the other guy, Yair Rodriguez, who is just completely dialed in,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “Team Valle Flow has just got something going on. They’ve got two champions under that roof, the emergence of Ignacio Bahamondes, and the best guy, the most naturally talented guy skill-for-skill is Yair Rodriguez.
“When you think about how much he’s already accomplished, the interim championship obviously, you don’t think about some of the ebbs and flows, the maturation, the development, and you don’t necessarily give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Anik made a bold prediction about Rodriguez’s future.
“I think it stands to reason that Yair Rodriguez, sort of a forgotten man at ’45, could go on and become undisputed featherweight champion,” Anik continued. “I know you guys know, when he’s on, he’s a massive problem. You should hear the way Belal Muhammad talks about this guy: Faster than the eyes can track.”
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