Rising MMA promotion Combate Americas withdrew its offer to featherweight free agent Yair Rodriguez in a deal that would have earned him far more than he was making in the UFC.
The promotion beat out every other MMA promotion in Latin America, yet they withdrew their offer on Friday for still undisclosed reasons:
“We wish Yair the best of luck in his career.”
”El Pantera” made $100,000 ($50k to show, $50k to win) in his TKO victory over MMA legend BJ Penn.
Sources close to the situation claim Combate Americas offer was significantly higher than Rodriguez made in the UFC.
The top featherweight prospect was released from the UFC after declining two fights in a row, all while coming off of a TKO loss to Frankie Edgar.
Where will “El Pantera” end up now that he’s a free agent?
We’ve all watched a mixed martial arts fight where one fighter seemed outclassed from the moment the bout was scheduled. Whether that fighter is facing skill or size obstacles, they still show up and fight, even when faced with insurmountable odds against them. Take a look at the 10 biggest mismatches in MMA history: 10.
We’ve all watched a mixed martial arts fight where one fighter seemed outclassed from the moment the bout was scheduled.
Whether that fighter is facing skill or size obstacles, they still show up and fight, even when faced with insurmountable odds against them.
Take a look at the 10 biggest mismatches in MMA history:
10. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho
Anytime you have what might be the beast heavyweight mixed martial artist of all time in the ring, it may always seem a little lopsided.
That fact was no better demonstrated in his 36-second destruction of Brazilian behemoth Zuluzinho.
While Zulu was a formidable 6 foot 7 and over 400 pounds of human, his ridiculous size was not enough to overcome Fedor’s unbelievable win streak and skill-set.
A straight left hand planted the big man on his bottom. Fedor attacked with lightning quick instinct, and felled his foe before he was able to get to his feet from the very first punch landed.
Tomorrow night (Sun., January 15, 2017) the UFC will return in a high-profile time slot with UFC Fight Night 103 from Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The card itself may not live up to the billing of a MMA event set to follow FOX’s NFL playoff broadcast, but it does feature the return of
Tomorrow night (Sun., January 15, 2017) the UFC will return in a high-profile time slot with UFC Fight Night 103 from Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The card itself may not live up to the billing of a MMA event set to follow FOX’s NFL playoff broadcast, but it does feature the return of former welterweight and lightweight titleholder BJ Penn, who will look to begin a new chapter of his storied career against rising potential star Yair Rodriguez, who will look to use “The Prodigy” as his biggest win to date.
The card offers somewhat little name value aside from the main event, with Joe Lauzon vs. Marcin Held squaring off in the lightweight co-main event. Find out who we picked to win the two main bouts here:
BJ Penn vs. Yair Rodriguez:
Mike Drahota:
While “The Prodigy” has no doubt had one of the more historic and prominent careers in UFC history, it remains to be seen if his comeback attempt can bear any fruit. Since it was announced last year, Penn’s return has been blocked by seemingly endless injuries, a USADA suspension, and even a set of disturbing allegations that ultimately didn’t result in criminal charges. That makes me wonder if it was doomed before it began.
Predicting the future based on the past is at times a tough undertaking, however, so we can only focus on the facts we have. In that area, Penn simply has a massive challenge before him in the form of Rodriguez, arguably the UFC’s best rising star after the recent falls of Paige VanZant and Sage Northcutt. “El Pantera” is fast, powerful, and well rounded, and he also possesses quite possibly the most dynamic and unorthodox striking skills at the featherweight division.
“The Prodigy” has been training with both Greg Jackson and Jason Parillo, and he no doubt has the all-around game to pull off a big win. But with five losses in his last seven bouts, I just don’t see it in such a difficult fight. Penn could certainly shock the world, and his best chance to do so is probably on the ground with his world-class submission game. I just tend to believe Rodriguez’s length, speed, and accuracy will enable him to outclass Penn on the feet. Yair Rodriguez by unanimous decision.
Mike Henken:
As big of a fan of Penn as I am, I feel as if “The Prodigy” has quite a tough fight in front of him. Not only has he not won a fight since 2010, but he also hasn’t competed since being brutally stopped by Frankie Edgar in 2014. He will now attempt to make his return at 38 years of age against the red-hot prospect Rodriguez. The former TUF: Latin America winner has compiled a 5-0 record inside of the Octagon using his long and rangy striking style that includes a wide variety of spinning and jumping attacks.
Rodriguez also possesses somewhat solid wrestling and a seemingly solid ground game, although he prefers to strike. However, the Mexican can get wild at times, leaving open the opportunity for Penn to use his crisp and powerful boxing to land a big shot. Penn should also look to close the distance, as Rodriguez likes to fight from the outside. If the fight ends up on the mat, “The Prodigy” may also have a chance, as his jiu-jitsu is second to none. Now training under the tutelage of legendary trainer Greg Jackson, it’ll be interesting to see what form of Penn shows up. While I could see him pulling something off in Phoenix, I feel as if Rodriguez will stick and move on the outside, while picking Penn apart. Rodriguez by fourth-round TKO.
Joe Lauzon vs. Marcin Held:
Mike Drahota:
This possible lightweight barnburner doesn’t possess any true ranking implication for the crowded 155-pound division, but it will almost assuredly be a lot of fun. Bonus leader Lauzon has seemingly alternated big performances with ho-hum ones, and he’s lost five out of his last nine bouts after dropping a controversial split decision to his longtime foe Jim Miller in his latest bout. Held, on the other hand, is a grappling wiz like Lauzon, but he has a lot more to prove after dropping his UFC debut fight against another longtime veteran in Diego Sanchez. Held has to win to begin living up to the promise he brought, and I think he gets it done here after Lauzon puts him in some dangerous spots. Held by unanimous decision.
Mike Henken:
The co-main event should be an intriguing fight between two entertaining fighters. Lauzon is extremely aggressive, constantly pushing forward with combinations. On the ground, he fights in a similar manner, relentlessly hunting for a finish. Held is also an aggressive fighter, although he tends to push forward looking for a takedown. On the canvas, Held is extremely dangerous with submissions, although Lauzon is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a very strong grappler himself. I see “J-Lau” avoiding a grappling match and landing big shots on the feet. Lauzon by second-round TKO.
As a potential future star of MMA, 24-year-old former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): Latin American winner Yair Rodriguez will look to continue his rise up the featherweight ranks when he puts his undefeated Octagon record on the line against returning former two-division champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn in the main event of this weekend’s (Jan.
As a potential future star of MMA, 24-year-old former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): Latin American winner Yair Rodriguez will look to continue his rise up the featherweight ranks when he puts his undefeated Octagon record on the line against returning former two-division champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn in the main event of this weekend’s (Jan. 15, 2016) UFC Fight Night 103 from Phoenix, Arizona.
Many have doubted Penn leading up to his return bout based on the fact he hasn’t competed since 2014 and hasn’t won a fight since 2010. However, the former lightweight and former welterweight champion is training under the tutelage of legendary coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, which could help to revive his career.
Rodriguez has actually spent time at Jackson-Winkeljohn as well, although he isn’t worried about his training secrets being leaked to “The Prodigy”. In fact, Rodriguez recently told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he doesn’t give a ‘f*ck’ about it:
“He’s been training with people that know me really well and are my friends — ‘Cowboy,’ Diego Sanchez, ‘Magician,’ Jackson, ‘Wink,’” he said. “All of those guys can easily tell him where I’m good at … and not. I don’t really care, I’m a fighter and you have to worry about me at any area of the fighting game. I can wrestle, I can strike and I can grapple and I really don’t give a f*ck.
“I’m a fighter and I was born a fighter. I’m a champion, I know I’m a champion already.”
It has indeed been a few years since Rodriguez spent time at the notorious gym in New Mexico, and although he now trains at Valle Flow Striking in Chicago, he says there’s no hard feelings between him and Jackson.
Do you feel is Rodriguez will continue to shine, or will Penn get back to his winning ways?
Legendary former UFC lightweight and former UFC welterweight champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn is set to make his return to action in the main event of this weekend’s (Jan. 15, 2016) UFC Fight Night 103 from Phoenix, Arizona. Penn last competed in 2014, and he’ll be facing a tough test this Saturday, as he’s set
Legendary former UFC lightweight and former UFC welterweight champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn is set to make his return to action in the main event of this weekend’s (Jan. 15, 2016) UFC Fight Night 103 from Phoenix, Arizona. Penn last competed in 2014, and he’ll be facing a tough test this Saturday, as he’s set to take on rising prospect Yair Rodriguez.
Many have doubted Penn heading into his return bout given the fact that he hasn’t won a fight since 2010, but his longtime boxing coach Jason Parillo, who recently spoke on The Extra Rounds Podcast, said that Penn ‘remembered who the f*ck he is’ during this training camp:
“I think he’s made some gains and remembered who the f-ck he is,” Parillo said. “I think he’s going to go out there and give this kid a shock.”
Penn last fought former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in July 2014 and it unfortunately turned out to be of the worst performances of his illustrious career. Now at age 38, however, Penn has reunited with Parillo and has also trained under the tutelage of legendary trainers Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn in New Mexico.
Parillo feels as if the necessary changes have been made and he expects to see a different version of “The Prodigy” in this upcoming fight:
“He’s preparing maybe for a guy he saw fight Frankie Edgar fight last but I think BJ’s a different guy than he was.”
Do you expect Penn to return to form against Rodriguez?
