Yair Rodriguez

Yair Rodríguez, known to fight fans as "El Pantera," is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist competing in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Born and raised in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, Rodríguez began training in Taekwondo at the age of five and went on to earn a black belt in the discipline, a foundation that still shows in the kicking combinations and angles he brings into the cage. He turned professional in 2011 and built his early reputation on the regional Mexican circuit before catching the attention of the UFC. He earned his contract by winning the featherweight tournament on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, submitting opponents on his way to the final before taking the title by unanimous decision. Over the course of his career, Rodríguez has trained at respected camps including Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, sharpening his striking and grappling alongside a roster of top contenders.

Rodríguez is widely regarded as one of the most creative and unpredictable strikers in mixed martial arts, mixing spinning attacks, flying knees, unorthodox kicks, and reactive counters that make him a constant highlight-reel threat. That style has produced some of the most replayed moments in UFC history, headlined by his last-second reverse elbow knockout of Chan Sung Jung ("The Korean Zombie") at UFC Fight Night 139 in 2018, a finish that earned Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night honors and is remembered as one of the greatest knockouts in the promotion’s history. In February 2023, Rodríguez captured the interim UFC Featherweight Championship, submitting Josh Emmett by triangle choke at UFC 284.

Known for his flair, athleticism, and willingness to take risks other fighters won’t, El Pantera has built a legacy as a fan favorite who represents Mexico on one of combat sports’ biggest stages.