5 possible next opponents for Yair Rodriguez

#2. Yair Rodriguez vs. Chan Sung Jung 2

Chan Sung Jung has a record of 17-6

Yair Rodriguez famously knocked out 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung in the final second of the pair's 2018 meeting. With that fight now over three years behind us, perhaps now is the time to run it back.

'The Korean Zombie' and 'El Pantera' are two of the most popular fighters in the division not named Max Holloway. They also both ranked at the top of the division, meaning neither man would likely fall too far were they to lose this potential fight.

Pitting these two against each other would ensure one of them heads right back into the title picture. This would likely appeal to the UFC as neither man has faced current champion Alexander Volkanovski.

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#1. Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega

Brian Ortega's record is 15-2 (1NC)

Brian Ortega came agonizingly close to winning the UFC featherweight championship in his last bout. Given Yair Rodriguez also came close to upsetting a former featherweight champion, maybe this is the fight to make next.

Both men currently sit in the top give of the division and so, once again, neither man would lose too much ground were they to be unsuccessful in this potential bout. It would also be a fresh first-time matchup between two of the division's biggest stars.

Ortega likely needs a win to get back into a title fight so could be keen for this fight. For Rodriguez, this bout would provide a huge opportunity to pick up a win over the man who is largely considered the third best in the division at the moment, behind Volkanovski and Holloway.