It was as anticlimactic as a main event could be, but Yair Rodriguez got his hand raised in victory over Brian Ortega, nonetheless.
Rodriguez was awarded a first-round TKO just 4:11 into their UFC Fight Night main event at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York on Saturday due to Ortega’s right shoulder popping out of its socket after he tried to break free from an armbar attempt.
Prior to the stoppage, Ortega and Rodriguez were really beginning to engage with strikes in their standup game. Ortega landed enough punches to draw blood on Rodriguez’s cheekbone, while “El Pantera” caught “T-City” with clean shots as well.
The premature ending came when Rodriguez, who was on his back, grabbed hold of Ortega’s shoulder. As Ortega yanked his arm free, he fell onto his back writhing in pain due to his right shoulder popping out of place.
“I was trying to make as much damage as I could so I could take away his movement on his feet,” Rodriguez told Daniel Cormier in the Octagon moments after winning.
“It’s unfortunate he dislocated his shoulder or whatever. I already told him, we could run it back any time. We can do this but I’d rather do it for a championship instead of being in a situation like this. This is unfortunate, bro.”
The victory, although not in the style that Rodriguez was hoping for, could vault him into a title shot against featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Ortega expressed his desire to run it back with Rodriguez, although he couldn’t downplay his dejection fresh off the moment.
Ortega added: “Guys I’m so f—ing sorry. I don’t know how this happened.”
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