Yair Rodriguez hopes to absorb a number of the vitality left by Muhammad Ali and different athletes who’ve skilled on the iconic fifth Road Gymnasium in Miami.
Rodriguez returns to the Octagon on Saturday evening for a high-stakes scrap with promotional newcomer Patricio Pitbull. It’s a bout that might put the winner in pole place for a shot on the featherweight world title later this 12 months.
Seeking to achieve each doable benefit over the previous two-division Bellator champion, Rodriguez spent a while honing his abilities at Ali’s outdated stomping grounds in ‘The 305.
“Proper now, we’re on the Muhammad Ali fitness center the place he used to coach,” Rodriguez stated on episode two of UFC 314 Embedded. “We’re joyful and excited to be right here, grabbing the vitality from this fitness center. As Coach Islam was telling me, even when it’s like 1% or 10%, we simply seize the vitality of this fitness center as a result of nice folks have handed by these doorways, and eventually, I’m one among them.
“So, I’m actually joyful and excited to be right here. I attempt to not get an excessive amount of into my head, however I really feel wonderful. , my physique appears to be like unbelievable—I’m utterly in form. Good vibes throughout and good spirits—we’re prepared for Saturday.”
Yair Rodriguez wants a win to remain related within the featherweight division
Rodriguez will look to snap a two-fight dropping skid for the primary time in his profession after developing quick in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega in back-to-back bouts.
In the meantime, the 37-year-old Pitbull hopes to indicate the world that he nonetheless has loads of fuel within the tank after spending the final 14 years of his profession dominating the competitors underneath the Bellator banner. Pitbull earned a third-round TKO over Jeremy Kennedy in March, bouncing again from two straight losses in opposition to Sergio Pettis and Chihiro Suzuki.
Total, Pitbull is 36-7 in his combined martial arts profession with 24 of his victories coming inside the space.
