Greg Jackson: Special ‘It’ Factor Sets Yair Rodriguez Apart From Other Fighters

“The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” Season 1 winner Yair Rodriguez is one of the UFC’s fastest rising stars, and his ascent may have only accelerated last weekend.

The Mexican featherweight earned the most impressive victory of his promotional tenure when he knocked out Team Alpha Male product Andre Fili 2:15 into the second round at UFC 197. Rodriguez’s first finish in the Octagon was punctuated by a spectacular leaping roundhouse kick, a maneuver that will undoubtedly wind up on most “Knockout of the Year” lists by the end of 2016.

For his efforts, Rodriguez earned his second post-fight bonus in four UFC outings. Thus far, unorthodox moves like that kick have been his calling card since…