Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier Unveils Game-Changing Strategy for Yair Rodriguez’s Showdown Against Alexander Volkanovski
In a thrilling turn of events, Daniel Cormier, the renowned UFC analyst, has shared his groundbreaking analysis on Yair Rodriguez’s path to becoming the undisputed UFC featherweight champion at UFC 290. With the highly anticipated fight card set to take place on July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, all eyes are on Rodriguez as he aims to dethrone the legendary Alexander Volkanovski.
Cormier, in a captivating video on his YouTube channel, broke down the crucial elements that Rodriguez must harness to secure victory. Emphasizing the unique challenge posed by Volkanovski’s counter-striking abilities, Cormier advised Rodriguez, stating, “Yair Rodriguez is gonna have to do something different this weekend because if he forces, and he goes forward too much, he’s gonna find himself in trouble. He’s gotta use his kicks like he did against Josh Emmett.”
Continuing his insightful breakdown, Cormier emphasized that relying solely on boxing skills would be perilous for Rodriguez, citing Max Holloway’s experience in his third fight against Volkanovski. Instead, Cormier stressed the significance of Rodriguez’s kick arsenal, highlighting their effectiveness against Volkanovski. However, he also acknowledged the Australian champion’s formidable wrestling prowess.
Rodriguez’s last victory against Josh Emmett, where he showcased his impressive kicking abilities, was a testament to his potential in this upcoming clash. Despite his striking prowess, Rodriguez enters the fight as a considerable underdog with betting odds placing him at +285.
Meanwhile, Cormier couldn’t help but praise Volkanovski’s exceptional fight IQ, regarding him as one of the smartest fighters in the entire UFC. With an unblemished record in the featherweight division and an impressive promotional debut in 2017, Volkanovski is rightfully the favorite heading into UFC 290.
“Very rarely do you get a guy [like Volkanovski] that’s shorter that possesses that type of countering ability. Yair Rodriguez is gonna have to do something different this weekend because if he forces, and he goes forward too much, he’s gonna find himself in trouble. He’s gotta use his kicks like he did against Josh Emmett.”
Cormier continued:
“It can’t be the hands that is gonna save Yair Rodriguez because if he tries to do it with the hands, he’s gonna get ate up like Max [Holloway] did in fight number three by Volkanovski. He’s that good. You gotta do it with the kicks if you’re Yair Rodriguez. The problem with the kicks is, Volkanovski can wrestle.“
Dana White, the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has announced his plans to create custom UFC belts specifically designed for Mexican champions. In an interview with Complex, White discussed his passion for sneaker collecting and revealed his intention to extend this customization concept to the prestigious UFC belts.
During the interview, White highlighted a particular sneaker—a custom Jordan 1—designed by an unnamed Mexican artist. This sneaker served as the inspiration for his idea of customized belts. White proudly mentioned that he currently has three Mexican world champions: Alexa Grasso, the women’s flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, the flyweight champion, and Yair Rodriguez, the interim featherweight champion.
The artist behind the sneakers proposed a unique concept of painting the UFC belts with the Mexican flag and other creative designs. Intrigued by the idea, White enthusiastically confirmed his intention to move forward with the project, stating, “I’m actually going to do it. So these fighters would have a one-of-one custom Mexican championship belt.”
It appears that Yair Rodriguez, the interim featherweight champion, has already embraced the idea of a customized belt. In a recent Instagram video posted on July 3, Rodriguez showcased his personalized UFC interim title, which had been artistically modified. The responsible artists for Rodriguez’s customized belt are Jacobo & María Ángeles, renowned for their expertise in wood carving Zapotec figures. They operate from San Martin Tilcajete, Mexico.
Although White did not disclose the name of the artist behind his custom sneakers, his collaboration with the talented Mexican artist for the UFC belts is an exciting development. These custom-designed belts will not only celebrate the achievements of Mexican champions but also serve as unique symbols of their accomplishments within the UFC.
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