Yair Rodriguez’s spirit is not broken after suffering the most high-profile loss of his carer at UFC 290.
Rodriguez (15-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) was unable to unify the featherweight titles Saturday and was handed a third-round TKO loss by Alexander Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was a lopsided fight, with Rodriguez only finding minimal moments of success.
After claiming the interim belt in February, Rodriguez had his chance to overtake the 145-pound division, but Volkanovski was determined not to hand over the throne. It was a tough result for the Mexican, who was transported to hospital and did not speak to the media immediately after the fight.
It appears his spirit was not broken, though, as in his first social media post after the bout, Rodriguez praised Volkanovski and promised to return stronger (via Instagram):
Thanks for watching friends.
I know that expectations were not met, the truth from the heart I had in my mind the vision of winning and the mentality.
I can only say that congratulations to @alexvolkanovski for an excellent performance and to his team as well.
Nothing knocks us down, I said it before and I will continue saying it, resilience is something that is part of me as of all Mexicans and it is also for men to accept defeat when it knocks on our door.
It is not the only opportunity I will have to make all of you who love and support me proud, many more will come!
Long live Mexico today and always!
Rodriguez, 30, has only lost three times in his UFC career to Volkanovski, former featherweight champ Max Holloway and former lightweight titleholder Frankie Edgar. He’s come back stronger after each previous defeat.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
Yair Rodriguez posts message after UFC 290 title loss: ‘Nothing knocks us down’