Yair Rodriguez gave Patricio Pitbull a tough welcome to the UFC.
The former UFC interim featherweight champion outworked and ultimately overwhelmed the longtime Bellator stalwart on Saturday at UFC 314, giving Rodriguez (20-5, 1 NC) a unanimous decision win and spoiling Pitbull's much-anticipated Octagon debut at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
In the end, all three judges scored it a clean sweep for Rodriguez, 30-27.
Afterward, Rodriguez called to fight the winner of UFC 314's main event, which features Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes battling for the vacant UFC featherweight title.
"I knew he was going to be tough," Rodriguez said post-fight of Pitbull. "Honestly I was picturing it in my head a little bit different. I wanted to finish him in the first round, I was preparing for that. I had good techniques prepared for that, but the guy's good, he has all the experience in the world.
"All the respect to Patricio Pitbull and his new journey here in the UFC. I wish him nothing but the best, but now it's time to be focused on what's next. And what's next, [UFC executive] Hunter Campbell, we talked over the phone, he promised me, he said, 'If you win your next fight, title shot is next.
"Let's do Mexico, September, Guadalajara — I want to fight for a title there. Whoever wins tonight, I want to fight that guy in Mexico."
Rodriguez, 32, lapped Pitbull, 37, in striking volume from the opening horn, using his length and an array of kicks to the head, body and legs to pick apart Pitbull (36-8) from distance and keep the Brazilian guessing what was coming next. Rodriguez gained confidence as the fight wore on and even did his best work in the third round, dropping Pitbull with a huge connection and battering him with strikes in an effort to finish.
YAIR DROPS PITBULL IN THE FINAL ROUND 🤯@PanteraUFC | #UFC314pic.twitter.com/fXQpGzAVz2
— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
Pitbull gamely fought out of the bad position, but ultimately landed just 17 significant strikes to Rodriguez's 70 and never really got out of first gear throughout the 15-minute affair.
The win marks Rodriguez's first since February ...
