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Battling for the interim featherweight championship within the UFC 284 co-main occasion, Yair Rodriguez placed on arguably the best efficiency of his profession. Rodriguez took lower than two rounds to lock in a triangle choke and power Josh Emmett to faucet out, gaining Rodriguez his first style of UFC gold.
Rodriguez got here out quick, utilizing his his velocity and size to pepper Emmett with kicks to the pinnacle, physique and legs. One early physique kick folded Emmett over and briefly despatched him reeling.
Emmett was in a position to make the most of Rodriguez’s aggression late within the opening spherical, sending an off-balance Rodriguez to the canvas and following to do some harm with heavy floor and pound. Rodriguez was by no means in serious trouble, nevertheless, and managed to get to the top of the spherical.
Things solely obtained worse for Emmett within the second spherical, with Rodriguez battering him with blistering photographs from odd angles. At one level, Emmett’s equilibrium was thrown out of whack from a brief elbow to the temple from Rodriguez.
Looking to shut the present, Rodriguez unloaded extra heavy photographs earlier than connecting with a flying knee. Emmett was in a position to make use of the knee to take Rodriguez again to the canvas, however Rodriguez patiently positioned himself to attempt to lock in an armbar earlier than transitioning to a triangle choke to power the faucet.
The submission was Rodriguez’s first in practically a decade and was the primary time Emmett had been submitted in 21 skilled bouts.
Rodriguez now waits for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to struggle light-weight champion Islam Makhachev within the UFC 284 predominant occasion earlier than returning to the featherweight division for a showdown to crown an undisputed champion.
