MIAMI – Yair Rodriguez is determined to prove to Patricio Freire that the UFC is in a league of its own.
Rodriguez (19-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is set to face Freire (36-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the octagon this Saturday on the main card of UFC 314 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Kaseya Center.
Freire, also known as “Pitbull,” enjoyed a successful career in Bellator, holding both the promotion’s featherweight and lightweight titles simultaneously. A win over former interim champ Rodriguez could catapult him into the UFC’s 145-pound division, but Rodriguez plans on giving him a reality check.
Speaking to MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 314 media day, Rodriguez said, “I’m excited to be the one welcoming him to the UFC. I will show him the level of competition it takes to thrive in this organization for as many years as I have, and he will experience it on Saturday.”
Coming off consecutive losses to Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega, Rodriguez admitted to feeling mentally drained from training. However, he is now in a much better place and is determined to showcase his growth as a fighter this Saturday.
“Towards the end of last year, I started making changes, putting more time into training, altering my habits. By the end of the year, I completely transformed everything – my mindset, training regimen, diet, and bad habits,” Rodriguez explained. “I eliminated all the negative aspects and replaced them with positivity. My body is grateful for the changes, as I can see progress physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is the best I have ever felt in my life.”
For more information about the event, check out MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
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