Yair Rodriguez is heading into a rematch with Brian Ortega in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 237 in Mexico City on Saturday night, but he’s admitted that he’s far more fired up about the possibility of going up against newly crowned featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
“It’s always weird. I never wanted to fight the guy,” Rodriguez said of Ortega at yesterday’s media day. “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.”
However, the same can not be said with regards to his feelings on Topuria, who is clearly public enemy No.1 as far as Rodriguez is concerned.
“I would love to f*ck him up,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t want to fight him, I want to f*ck him up. There’s a f*cking big difference on that, just to make that clear. And anywhere I f*cking see him, I’ll f*ck him up.
“… F*ck this b*tch. I don’t f*cking like him.
“I don’t normally get into this kind of situation with nobody, I’m really respectful,” Rodriguez continued. “But this f*cking guy, you know, I just don’t really like him. I don’t like him. I don’t have to f*cking like him. I want to f*ck him up. That’s what I want to do.”
It’s not hard to see why Rodriguez might have some bad blood with Topuria as the new champ has been very dismissive when it comes to talking about him and other top contenders in the division.
“Max, Yair, Brian Ortega, all of them, they can go and retire,” Topuria stated on MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. “I’m never going to give them the chance to fight for the title — never.”
