While other fighters strive for attention, Yair Rodriguez has mastered the art of flying under the radar. But don’t be fooled by his low-key demeanor, for he is ready to step into the spotlight once again. Rodriguez captured the interim UFC featherweight championship with a victory over Josh Emmett at UFC 284.

Now, ‘El Pantera’ is poised to face the reigning champion, Alexander Volkanovski, in a title unification bout at UFC 290. While the media frenzy swirls around Volkanovski and his vocal desire for a rematch with Islam Makhachev, it seems Rodriguez has quietly executed his game plan to perfection. Recently, a UFC legend also shed light on this strategy by the Mexican fighter.

Former UFC title challenger talks about Yair Rodriguez & his gameplan

Chael Sonnen recently appeared on The MMA Hour Show by Ariel Helwani. There, he shared his insights on the matter, highlighting Rodriguez’s deliberate strategy to stay out of the media’s attention. Sonnen astutely noted that Volkanovski seems more preoccupied with talking about Makhachev than his upcoming challenger, Rodriguez. This calculated move by Rodriguez has allowed him to fly under the radar, keeping the pressure off and the attention focused elsewhere.

“Volk is doing more things talking about Islam than he is talking about Rodriguez. I’m telling you, I don’t know if that plays in the fight, I will just tell you. This was Yair’s plan from the beginning. And it’s working, he is getting all the attention off him. He’s putting all the pressure over here and he’s coming under the radar.” Sonnen’s analysis didn’t end there, as he showered praise upon Rodriguez for his exceptional fighting skills that not many recognize.

Chael Sonnen about ‘El Pantera’s’ fighting skills

Shortly after, Sonnen drew attention to Josh Emmett’s (Rodriguez’s previous opponent) impressive performance against Ilia Topuria in their recent bout. Sonnen implied that if Emmett, a formidable opponent, showcased such skill and toughness, it speaks volumes about Rodriguez’s own abilities since he emerged victorious against Emmett.

“You see how tough Emmett was over the weekend, that tells you something about Rodriguez. Emmett’s performance and how tough and how good he looked changes Rodriguez versus Volk. Because now you start to understand just how good Rodriguez really is.”

Read More: “Unconventional” Yair Rodriguez Better Than Demetrious Johnson in One Particular Aspect Claims UFC Legend: “He Has a Different Approach”

Will the Mexican fighter be able to become the undisputed featherweight champion of UFC? Do let us know your thoughts about this exciting fight in the comments below.

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