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UFC 284: Yair Rodriguez submits Josh Emmett for interim featherweight gold (Video)

By Thomas Albano

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: Yair Rodriguez of Mexico stands on the scales during the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of UFC 284 at RAC Arena on February 11, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: Yair Rodriguez of Mexico stands on the scales during the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of UFC 284 at RAC Arena on February 11, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) /
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Yair Rodriguez becomes interim featherweight champion at UFC 284, clinching himself a path to either undisputed gold or a fight with Alexander Volkanovski.

Nearly a decade after winning The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, and five years after he was let go by the UFC for three weeks, Yair Rodriguez now gets a taste of UFC gold.

Rodriguez defeated Josh Emmett in the co-main event of UFC 284 to become the interim UFC featherweight champion.

Rodriguez and Emmett opened their fight with both bouncing around and observing the other before a quick flurry from Rodriguez saw him land a noteworthy body kick. Rodriguez landed another strong body kick in the round, though Emmett answered with a right hand.

Rodriguez landed a high kick, but Emmett dropped Rodriguez immediately after and scrambled to the ground, staying in top control until the end of the round — though Rodriguez landed a couple of elbows from the bottom in the closing seconds.

UFC 284: Yair Rodriguez becomes interim UFC featherweight champion with finish of Josh Emmett

Both men opened round two with 40 seconds of keeping distance before they traded and brawled in the center of the Octagon. Emmett answered a kick from Rodriguez with a clinch up against the cage. Rodriguez seemed to clip Emmett with an inside shot about midway through the second. A flying knee attempt by Rodriguez resulted in him ending up on his back in a ground grappling battle.

But Rodriguez would use his ground game to his advantage. From his back, he managed to lock Emmett in a triangle choke, scoring the submission and interim gold.

Rodriguez could now either challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the undisputed UFC featherweight title — or become the undisputed champ automatically — depending on what happens with Volkanovski in the main event of tonight’s card.

Next. UFC 284: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski results [UPDATED]. dark

UFC 284: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski takes place on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, live from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your news and highlights.

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