“El Pantera” is priming the stage for an explosive showdown.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim Featherweight champion, Yair Rodriguez,welcomes Bellator MMA’s previous two-division kingpin, Patricio Pitbull, to the Octagon this weekend (Sat., April 12, 2025) at UFC 314, set to ignite the pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Pitbull wasn’t Rodriguez’s top pick. The Mexican star originally angled for a clash with Diego Lopes at UFC Mexico City, but that bout fell through. Now, they share Saturday’s PPV main card.
And victories for both could pave the way for a blockbuster later this year at Noche UFC 3 (a.k.a. UFC 320).
“My visualization goes toward that,” Rodriguez told reporters at UFC 314 media day (watch here). “I’m obviously not overlooking this fight with Pitbull, but you have to be prepared for anything. You have to visualize what you want to happen and create it—so that’s what I’ve been doing.”
There is one thing that bugs Rodriguez, though: Lopes representing Mexico despite his Brazilian roots.
“I don’t agree with it,” Rodriguez said. “I started my career in the UFC in 2014, and now it’s 2025. I’ve been living in the U.S. for over 10 years, my girlfriend is American, and I speak English. And now, because of that, I’m representing the American flag to gain followers? I love this country, but I’m not going to say I’m American. I’m not. I’m Mexican, and I’m proud of it.
“Yes, I have a problem with that — not with Diego,” Rodriguez added. “He’s just doing his job with what he’s doing right now. My issue is, what’s up with people? I understand he’s great, he’s exciting, and he’s doing his job, but I just don’t agree with it.”
Lopes, born in Brazil, has called Mexico home since 2015, settling there at age 19.
“I’ll never be that way and don’t want to be that way,” Rodriguez continued. “If he’s doing it, good for him. If people want to see him as Mexican, I don’t have a problem with that.
“I’ve been killing myself for the last 10 years for my country,” Rodriguez concluded. “If they decide to go with him when we have to fight or face each other, that’s on them. “I’ve been doing everything to represent my country. I’ve bled for my country, I’ve cried for my country, I’ve hugged the flag. I can’t be more proud of being Mexican.”
Drama!
LIVE! Watch UFC 314 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
FEATHERWEIGHT MADNESS! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., April 12, 2025, with a high-stakes clash between Featherweight standout, Alexander Volkanovski, and rising contender, Diego Lopes, battling for Ilia Topuria’s vacated Featherweight title in the five-round main event. In UFC 314’s electrifying co-headliner from inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla., Lightweight fan-favorite Michael Chandler will face the brash Paddy Pimblett in a five-round co-main event. UFC 314 will also feature a must-watch, bad-blood Featherweight showdown between Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva, alongside another 145-pound clash with Yair Rodriguez taking on promotional newcomer, Patricio Pitbull, and so much more! UFC 314’s start time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 314 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 314: “Volkanovski vs. Lopes” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
