Yair Rodriguez obtained a lift of confidence from Jon Jones early in his profession.
Rodriguez (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), the interim UFC featherweight champion, spent a while coaching with former longtime UFC mild heavyweight champ and present heavyweight champ Jones at Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after profitable “The Final Fighter: Latin America” in 2014.
Jones noticed Rodriguez’s potential at an early stage, which “El Pantera” used as gas.
“He all the time was very nice to me,” Rodriguez informed ESPN. “He had all the time good issues to say to me. I do know he has completed a number of errors and been via a number of ups and downs in his life and his profession, however I actually consider that everyone can do errors and nonetheless carry on doing higher each time. Jon Jones is the right instance of that.
“I bear in mind one time once I was coaching in Albuquerque after which he approached me and stated, ‘Hey, are you able to come right here please?’ I used to be like, ‘Yeah, for positive.’ He was like, ‘What’s your title? Your expertise are spectacular. How previous are you?’ I used to be 20, 21 years previous in that second. He stated, ‘After I was 21 years previous, I didn’t have these expertise. You’re gonna get far on this sport. Hold going.’ Coming from Jon Jones in that second, when he wasn’t my pal, he was simply giving me inspiration, it was one thing actually particular for me. It made me consider in myself much more.”
Rodriguez lived as much as that potential, going 9-2 within the octagon earlier than capturing the interim featherweight title with a dominant submission of Josh Emmett at UFC 284. He’ll unify his belt with undisputed champ Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) in the primary occasion of UFC 290 on July 8 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 290.
