Yair Rodriguez believes Penn win has him creeping closer to UFC featherweight title shot

HOUSTON – After his brutal beatdown of UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn a few weeks ago, Yair Rodriguez can admit just taking the fight put him in a no-win situation.

Rodriguez (10-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) battered Penn (16-11-2 MMA, 12-10-2 UFC) in the former two-division champion’s return from retirement and ultimately took a second-round TKO home with him at UFC Fight Night 103 in Phoenix.

It kept him perfect in the UFC, and marching up the ladder in the featherweight division. But he still had his critics, and apparently was going to have them no matter what.

“After the fight, some people thought I overreacted because I won,” Rodriguez told USA TODAY Sports today during an appearance ahead of Super Bowl LI in Houston, where UFC Fight Night 104 takes place Saturday. “But the fight wasn’t just against B.J. Penn. It was against all the people. The UFC was expecting me to do that – I’m supposed to win against a legend.

“But it was a lose-lose fight for me. If I win, I won against an old guy, people say … I’m not a star, I’m just a joke. I won against an old guy. … I was in a pretty bad position. But I went there to perform.”

And perform he did, in a big way.

Now Rodriguez is starting to think about the possibilty of a title shot later this year. He said he’s ready to get back to training after healing up from a few bumps and bruises and thinks he might be just a fight or two away from getting a title shot.

Jose Aldo currently holds the UFC’s featherweight belt, and Max Holloway has the interim title. Their likely unification bout hasn’t been scheduled, but Rodriguez, who is an honorable mention selection in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings, just plans on continuing his climb.

“Anyone at the top of the division is going to be the same,” he said. “They have pretty similar styles, the top five in my division. I think I’m one fight away from fighting for the title if I win my next fight. That’s what I’m looking to do. I think it’s realistic for 2017. You just have to hope the UFC wants to push me. But whatever comes, I’ll take it.”

For more from Rodriguez about his training for the Penn fight and the fight itself, as well as his future prospects, check out the video above.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.