Yair Rod isn’t asking for a next title shot, but he wouldn’t turn down a chance to be given one.
Rodriguez won in a strange manner on Saturday at UFC Long Island when Brian Ortega dislocated his shoulder in the first round during a grappling exchange. Rodriguez said that he had been promised the title shot with victory. However, given the circumstances of this fight, El Pantera knows it is unlikely. Rodriguez is happy to be a good soldier in the UFC, and will do what’s asked.
“We’ll have to see,” Rodriguez said at his post fight press conference. “I want to talk to the UFC first. “I want to go to Vegas to talk with the top bosses to find out what their plans are and what I should do. I’m very grateful for their help. I’m just happy to be in this company. They are a great company to work with. They can tell me what to do. I will just wait to see how things go with the injuries and other stuff. At the moment, I’m not interested in thinking about it. I just want to enjoy time with my friends and family.”
Fortunately for Rodriguez, a title fight may still be next for him.
UFC Long Island president Dana White stated that the promotion is open to the idea for an interim title fight between Rodriguez & Josh Emmett, while Alexander Volkanovski, featherweight champion, remains out of action with a possible hand injury. And that’s obviously music to Rodriguez’s ears.
“Wow, that’s pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know what to say to that. They can do what they like, and I will do it. The ideal fight would be Volkanovski, but he’s out. So, I’m going to take Dana’s word for it.”
Ortega is the man that Ortega is most difficult to beat. In his post-fight interview Rodriguez asked for a rematch. However, Ortega could face another shoulder operation, so that may be a longer time.
Rodriguez stated that he will wait for Ortega regardless of the time it takes “T-City”, and that he intends to do so with 12 gold around his waist.
“I told him right after the fight, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. You’re fine, you’ll be fine,'” Rodriguez said. “‘I’m sure we’re going to meet up in the future. We can run it again, you just get healthy. But I want to tell you this, I’d rather do it for the championship instead of being in a situation like this. If you and I are going to fight again, hopefully we fight for the title.'”
