The former champion returns to the featherweight main event

Former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez is reportedly set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon on March 29 when he faces No. 3-ranked Diego Lopes in what appears to be be the main event for UFC Mexico.

The war report came from House of WarJake Noecker on Friday, January 10, and was supported by multiple sources, including MMA watch‘s Ariel Helwani later in the day.

The card is shaping up well, with the following seven fights reportedly locked in for the event:

• Feather weight: Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez
• Middle weight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
• Men’s Flyweight: Edgar Chairez vs. CJ Vergara
• Men’s Flyweight: Ronaldo Rodríguez vs. Kevin Borjas
• Straw weight for women: Yazmin Jauregui against Julia Polastri
• Men’s bantamweight: David Martinez vs. Simon Oliveira
• Middle weight: Ateba Gautier vs. Jose Medina

Lopes had hoped to land a title shot in his next fight after he recorded a unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega in UFC night in September. Instead, it looks like he will have to wait, as former champion Aleksander Volkanovski is seemingly in position to get another shot at regaining his title against Ilia Topurias, possibly in May.

Rodriguez has been sidelined since February 2024, the last time the UFC was in Mexico. Rodriguez lost to Ortega via third round submission. After more than a year out of the Octagon, Rodriguez, 32, will look to snap a two-fight losing streak and solidify his place in the UFC’s Top 5 featherweight division.

He will likely enter the fight ranked No. 5, unless the UFC removes Max Holloway from the featherweight rankings, given that he has moved up to lightweight.

What’s next for the UFC?

The weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 101 took place on Friday, January 10th.

Two fighters (Jose Johnson and Ihor Potieira) missed weight, but every fight remained on the card. Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas will have their rematch nearly five years in the making in the main event. After losing their 2019 clash by unanimous decision, Dern will look to settle the score.

Keep an eye on the explosive Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida. That fight has the potential to produce a spectacular KO. Also of interest is the main roster debut of Austin Bash.

Bashi is one of the top prospects of Season 8 of the Dana White Contender Series. Bashi faces a tough challenge in the bantamweight division, Christian Rodriguez.

Here’s a look at the card and the weigh-in results.

• Mackenzie Dern (116) vs. Amanda Ribas (116)
• Santiago Ponzinibbio (171) vs. Carlston Harris (170)
• Abdul Razak Alhassan (185.5) vs. Cesar Almeida (185.5)
• Chris Curtis (185.5) vs. Roman Kopylov (185.5)
• Christian Rodriguez (145) vs. Austin Bashi (145.5)
• Uros Medic (171) vs. Punahele Soriano (171)
• Jose Johnson (128.5)* vs. Felipe Bunes (126)
• Marco Tulio (185.5) vs. Ihor Potieria (188)*
• Thiago Moises (155.5) vs. Trey Ogden (155.5)
• Preston Parsons (171) vs. Jacob Smith (170.5)
• Ernesta Kareckaite (126) vs. Nicolle Caliari (125.5)
• Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (205.5)
• Fatima Kline (116) vs. Victoria Dudakova (116)
• Nurullo Aliev (155.5) vs. Joe Solecki (155)

* Weight lost

UFC Vegas 101 takes place at Apex on Saturday, January 11. Stay tuned for coverage after the event.