Yair Rodriguez’s amazing victory at UFC 314 has thrown him back into the title conversation. After defeating Patricio “Pitbull” at UFC 314, Rodriguez expressed strong desire to face the UFC Featherweight Champion. As per the former UFC Interim Featherweight Champion, Hunter Campbell promised him a title shot if he won the fight.
The post fight interview with Joe Rogan caught everyone’s attention as other deserving candidates wait for their title fight opportunity. The potential title opportunity if given to Rodriguez would be a reward for proving UFC’s supremacy over other MMA promotions. But several considerations imply he might not be the best next opponent for Alexander Volkanovski.
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Recent losses and previous defeat against Alexander Volkanovski
Rodriguez is only one fight off double defeats to Brian Ortega and Alexander Volkanovski. Particularly clear-cut was his loss at UFC 290 to Volkanovski. It ended in a third-round TKO with Rodriguez overwhelmed by the Australian’s all-around skill set.
Particularly given that the previous title fight was not closely fought, just one comeback victory, even against a strong adversary, might not be enough to wipe away the memory of these recent disappointments.
Quality of opponent at UFC 314
Though a renowned Bellator figure, Patricio Pitbull aged 36 years was having his debut UFC match and found it difficult to match Rodriguez’s pace and striking. Pitbull’s status as a Bellator great does not necessarily imply a comeback in elite UFC competition. The former Bellator champion’s display was not on a par with top UFC featherweights.
Though convincing, the win came against a rival who had not yet established himself in the UFC. So it is not as important as one over an established UFC competitor.
Other more deserving contenders
A more suitable challenger is Movsar Evloev. Ranked above Rodriguez, he has a 19-fight win streak including a flawless 9-0 victory in the UFC’s featherweight division.
Evloev’s less showy style notwithstanding, his flawless record and consistency really argue for a title run. Further substantiating his claim, he also recently beat ex Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling.
Alexander Volkanovski’s recent performance and preferences
Coming UFC 314, Volkanovski recovered his belt with a decision win over Diego Lopes and has declared his willingness to face both Rodriguez and Evloev.
But Volk himself acknowledged he didn’t at first view a contest with Rodriguez as the straightforward next step. So implying the UFC ought to make the ultimate decision depending on merit and division dynamics.
Comparasion: Yair Rodriguez vs. Movsar Evloev as title challengers
Yair Rodriguez and Movar Evloev give opposite cases as next possible opponents for the UFC featherweight champion. The Mexican has defeated a UFC debutant which makes his chances less appealing. Though a second fight with Volk would not be a previously unknown match, the Mexican’s dynamic and thrilling fighting technique draws a lot of fan attention. But to reach the fight he must get a win against another quality opponent from top 5 to make a bold claim. A fight against Lopes would be exciting next step as both were seen exchanging words at UFC 314 pre fight interview.
Movsar Evloev, on the other hand, is ranked above Rodriguez. He recently bested former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, therefore demonstrating high-level consistency. Though Evloev’s style is more decision-heavy, his undefeated record and new opponent possibilities against Volkanovski make him an attractive contender for the title shot. By and large, Evloev’s credentials and momentum seem to put him ahead of Rodriguez in the title contention line.
Conclusion
Although Rodriguez’s remarkable display at UFC 314 was amazing, his recent defeats, the background of his win, and the existence of an unbeaten and higher-ranked contender like Movsar Evloev all point to the need of Rodriguez getting another important victory before he invites a rematch with Volkanovski. The competitive environment of the division and the need for new matches also help to offer a fresh title shot to a different contender rather than replaying a fight that was recently and definitively decided.
Reddaveni Saisneha 
Aditya Khare