I believe it would be inappropriate to label Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez as a #1 contender’s fight, but calling it a title eliminator seems fair. I claim that as I believe Ortega would need another win to secure another crack at Alexander Volkanovski. Yes, their fight was incredible, a contest I’d love to see happen again. But there are so many candidates at featherweight that aren’t too far off from presenting Volkanovski with a fresh challenge, that a win for Ortega doesn’t seem likely to grant him another crack at the gold. Rodriguez is one of those fresh faces the UFC would love to plug in opposite Volkanovski.
Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez preview: Golden opportunity on the line at UFC Long Island
