Yair Rodriguez will be rematching Brian Ortega on Saturday in a fight he says he never wanted.
Rodriguez and Ortega fought back in July of 2022 and it was the Mexican who won by first-round stoppage as Ortega suffered a shoulder injury. Now, the two will be rematching in the co-main event of UFC Mexico City, which is also a five-round scrap.
Although this will be the second time they are fighting, Rodriguez admits he never wanted to fight Ortega whom he considered a friend.
“It’s always weird. I never wanted to fight the guy. This time is no different. I like his family, I like him. He’s Mexican, so it’s not the same feeling. It’s a job we have to do. Not something that I really wanted to do,” Rodriguez said at UFC Mexico City media day.
Even though Rodriguez didn’t want to fight Ortega, he says it’s just a job at this point. But, he knows with a win over Ortega, he will get a title shot against Topuria, which he’s excited about.
Yair Rodriguez wants to f**k up Ilia Topuria
If Yair Rodriguez does beat Brian Ortega on Saturday he’s confident that will earn him a title shot where he can settle his rivalry with Ilia Topuria.
The two have taken shots at one another and Rodriguez says it has gotten personal as he wants to f**k up the champion.
“I’ll love to f**k him up. I don’t want to fight him, I want to f**k him up, there is a f*****g big difference on that, to make that clear. Wherever I see him, I will f**k him up… F***k this bitch, I don’t like him,” Rodriguez said… “He was just talking shit about me and I made fun of him on social media and he started f*****g saying all kinds of shit so I kept on firing back, and that’s it. I don’t normally get into these kind of situations with anybody, I’m really respectful. This f*****g guy, I don’t really like him, I don’t like him, I don’t have to like him, I want to f**k him up, that is what I want to do.”
Before Rodriguez can get the title shot against Topuria, he will need to beat Ortega on Saturday.
