Former interim UFC featherweight titleholder Yair Rodriguez will headline the promotion’s upcoming Noche UFC event on September 12th.
UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez has become one of the forgotten members of the division’s title mix after a long hiatus from competition. After a win over former Bellator champion Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire last year at UFC 314, Rodriguez has been on the sidelines for undisclosed reasons.
Rodriguez was initially linked to a potential featherweight title rematch against Alexander Volkanovski following their wins at UFC 314. But a rematch never materialized, and Volkanovski went on to fight Diego Lopes at UFC 325.
After a long hiatus from competition, Rodriguez is finally set to return to the Octagon ahead of the promotion’s annual Noche UFC event in Glendale, Arizona. Rodriguez will headline the card against one of the division’s most dangerous contenders.
Yair Rodriguez vs. Jean Silva headlines Noche UFC in Glendale
As announced by the promotion on Tuesday, Rodriguez will fight Jean Silva (17-3-0) in the Noche UFC main event on September 12th in Glendale. The card also features the returns of Alexa Grasso, Brandon Moreno, and other top Latin fighters.
Silva returns to the Octagon for the first time since outpointing Arnold Allen at UFC 324 in January. He bounced back after a TKO loss to Diego Lopes at last year’s Noche UFC event in San Antonio.
Silva has earned finishes over the likes of Bryce Mitchell, Drew Dober, and Charles Jourdain during his UFC tenure. He rose to prominence after defeating fellow featherweight contender Kevin Vallejos on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023.
The Rodriguez vs. Silva winner could make a strong case for a No. 1 contender fight, as Volkanovski prepares for a likely showdown against top contender Movsar Evloev. Evloev most recently defeated Lerone Murphy at UFC London earlier this year.
What is your prediction for Yair Rodriguez vs. Jean Silva? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
