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UFC Interim Featherweight Champion Yair Rodriguez: What nickname does Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC 290 opponent go by?

Published 07/07/2023, 4:27 PM EDT

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A number of UFC fans might agree that the current UFC Interim Featherweight Champion, Yair Rodriguez, is one of the most entertaining fighters on the roster. Rodriguez’s superb speed and ability to pull strikes out of nowhere have often left fans bewildered. His backhand rising-elbow strike to finish off ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung at UFC Fight Night 139 bears testimony to this fact.

He and a number of UFC fans will probably be counting hours currently, awaiting the UFC 290. Rodriguez will stand a chance to unify his Interim Featherweight championship for the first time in his career. But a number of MMA fans and pundits have given out their opinion about his conquest being far from easy. It is quite understandable the ’30-year-old’ will have to give out the best of his efforts to defeat someone like Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski.

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Quite understandably, Rodriguez’s opponent’s kingly moniker is inspired by the legendary conqueror, Alexander The Great, himself. But a number of UFC fans might not be aware of ‘The Mexican’s’ nickname. A lot of others who know about it fail to figure out what it actually means.

What is Yair Rodriguez’s nickname?

Fans might know that Rodriguez goes by the nickname of ‘El Pantera’ in the UFC. But, the words being of Spanish origin are quite an unfamiliar thing for a lot of UFC audiences.

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While the fans with knowledge of Spanish and fighters like Ilia Topuria will definitely know what it means. Others can only make speculations about what ‘El Pantera’ might stand for. Well, it may be said that Rodriguez’s nickname is more of an ideal one. Even a number of ignorant fans also might agree that it serves its purpose well after knowing what it actually means.

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Why is Yair Rodriguez called “El Pantera”?

Monikers or nicknames are basically used to describe the attributes that a fighter showcases while he is inside the cage. Looking at ‘The Notorious’ nickname of the UFC star, Conor McGregor, even the ones with no knowledge of the sport might get an idea about his character. Whereas, Dustin Poirier’s nickname, ‘The Diamond’ stands for the superb toughness he showcases inside the octagon.

Similarly, it was Rodriguez’s superb agility and speed that earned him this nickname. As already mentioned, he has stunned a number of his opponents with a few never-seen-before strikes.

It won’t be wrong to say that Rodriguez’s nickname, ‘El Pantera’, signifies something that has got incredible agility and speed and is reputed for unprecedented attacks. Any guesses on what it might mean?

What does Yair Rodriguez’s nickname mean?

We would like to inform all the non-Spanish-speaking UFC fans that “El Pantera” actually means ‘The Panther’. Hence, it may be said that Rodriguez actually goes by the moniker of ‘The Panther’ in the UFC.

A large chunk of fans might finally agree with us now. Rodriguez’s stupendous agility has made a number of fans wonder whether he’s some human incarnation of a panther. It also won’t also be wrong to compare his high-flying and innovative style to a ‘Pantera’ while it is on an attack.

Watch this Story – Alexander Volkanovski Trains With 11x World Champion Ahead of Yair Rodriguez’s Fight

Further, his ending blow on ‘The Korean Zombie’ and a lot of other strikes from him will stand as proof of his unprecedented strikes that may come from anywhere, at any angle, and at any moment.

But do you think his superb prowess will be enough to stop the UFC Featherweight king, Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290?

 

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Written by:

Souvik Roy

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One take at a time

Souvik Roy is an exceptional UFC writer with an impressive portfolio of over 500 articles at EssentiallySports. The young writer did not allow speech impairment to come in the way of his love for writing and covering fights. As a keen observer, Souvik's passion for MMA was sparked when he discovered the UFC after being introduced to WWE.
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Edited by:

Anuj Jacob