UFC featherweight prospect Rodriguez doesn’t feel bad about battering Penn and says he wants to fight for the title next.
24-year-old Yair Rodriguez was nothing short of spectacular at UFC Fight Night 103 on Sunday.
The Mexican fighter put on a scintillating performance against UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn in the main event, blasting the MMA legend with a series of dynamic kicks and strikes, eventually picking up the TKO stoppage just 24 seconds into the second round.
Rodriguez, who made his UFC debut in 2014, says he doesn’t feel bad about beating a fan favorite and claims to have the featherweight title in his sights.
“No, of course not,” Rodriguez told TMZ after being asked whether he felt bad about landing some of those devastating kicks on Penn. “Once you’re a fighter you can not feel bad over a guy. You have to keep on kicking him, no matter what.”
“The champion,” Rodriguez said about who he wants to fight next. “It doesn’t matter who - the champion.”
The current 145-pound champion is Jose Aldo, who was reinstated as the title holder after the UFC decided to strip Conor McGregor of the belt due to his inactivity in the division. The Brazilian is expected to collide with interim FW champ Max Holloway in a title unification bout early this year.
UFC Fight Night 103, which took place at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena on Jan. 15, is the second event Rodriguez has headlined. Prior to his TKO stoppage of Penn, which is Rodriguez’ highest profile win to date, the Taekwondo black belt earned a split decision win over a very game Alex Caceres in the main event of UFC Fight Night 92.
Rodriguez has rattled off eight straight wins and is currently ranked as the No. 8 featherweight in the world.