Yair Rodriguez finally scored a win over a top-5 featherweight. Though it certainly wasn’t how he wanted it to go down.
In the main event of UFC Long Island, Rodriguez and Brian Ortega — No. 6 and No. 4 (tied) respectively at 145 pounds in MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings — met in a key bout that could have determined the next challenger for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Instead, Ortega suffered a shoulder injury with less than a minute remaining in the first round, bringing a premature end to the bout.
Fighters on social media lamented the unfortunate ending, though a few — including veteran analyst Kenny Florian — suggested that Rodriguez should be credited for executing the technique that caused the finish. Others wondered what the result means for the state of the featherweight title picture.
See the fighter reactions below, which includes from former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo angling for his own shot at Volkanovski.
Yair Rodriguez def. Brian Ortega
Ah man, that really sucks. Feel for Ortega. I’d love to see them run it back #UFCLongIsland
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) July 16, 2022
Stop sitting on your thumb. Let’s settle our business first. You want new blood I’m here Mate! https://t.co/QoPXYoP09n
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) July 16, 2022
Man that sucks!! Such an anti-climactic ending to what was looking like a great fight!
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) July 16, 2022
Do they run it back or do they match Yair with Volk now?#UFCLongIsland
Ugh that was starting very good
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 16, 2022
Looked like the Yair armlock attempt caused the Ortega shoulder dislocation. That’s a submission from Rodriguez in my book. Wow!
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 16, 2022
People saying “unfortunate ending” are shocked that submission attempts can injure limbs. ♂️
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 16, 2022
Sometimes fighters fight with injuries, not sure if that’s what happened but tough to see… brutal sport #UFCLongIsland
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) July 16, 2022
If someone gets hurt while defending a submission that's 100% a legit finish https://t.co/VGjmbgfFRo
— David Michaud (@bulldawg_170) July 16, 2022
Let them rematch.
— Danny Castillo (@lastcall155) July 16, 2022
Give @JoshEmmettUFC the shot.
Amanda Lemos def. Michelle Waterson
That Lemos power is something else. That’s a big way to bounce back over a vet like Michelle. #UFCLongIsland
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 16, 2022
I think Lemos could take the belt. She beats the champ #UFCLongIsland
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 16, 2022
This strawweight fight will be fire #UFCLongIsland
— Tabatha “BABY SHARK” Ricci (@TabathaRicci) July 16, 2022
Li Jingliang def. Muslim Salikhov
Beautiful finish by Li the Leech #UFCLongIsland
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) July 16, 2022
Keeping an eye on this one #UFCLongIsland
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) July 16, 2022
Nice finish for the Leech #UFCLongIsland
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) July 16, 2022
The Leech! #UFCLongIsland
— Tabatha “BABY SHARK” Ricci (@TabathaRicci) July 16, 2022
Sick fight @ufc
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) July 16, 2022
Matt Schnell def. Sumudaerji
#UFCLongIsland That second stanza was absolutely INSANE
— Charles 'DoBronxs' Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) July 16, 2022
Congrats Matt Schnell
Bloodsport
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 16, 2022
Those put on a great show
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) July 16, 2022
Fuck me that was some scrap that! @ufc best FlyW fight I’ve ever watched! #UFCLongIsland
— Paddy The Baddy (@theufcbaddy) July 16, 2022
F**k it, give both of them 50 Gs. The flyweights can scrap too! https://t.co/IHroAR47c1
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) July 16, 2022
Never think the fight is over until it's really over! #UFCLongIsland
— Marina Rodriguez MMA (@wmmarz) July 16, 2022
Holy schnell this fight is amazing
— michael (@bisping) July 16, 2022
Great Odin’s Raven!!!!!! What a fight, what a finish. @DANGER_Caged is that guy!!!!#UFCLongIsland #UFConABC3
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 16, 2022
So many crazy things about this fight!
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 16, 2022
What a poetic ending to the fight! #UFCLongIsland
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) July 16, 2022
Schnell a dog was on straight demon time
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) July 16, 2022
That ref helped make that fight amazing . Some would have stepped in and schnell would have never got the chance to come back
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) July 16, 2022
Now that was a Fight!!! Love it!!! #UFCLongIsland
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) July 16, 2022
Wow greatest flyweight fight ever @ufc Schnell
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) July 16, 2022
That was as a come back come back!!!#UFCVegas59
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) July 16, 2022
Flyweights #UFCLongIsland
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) July 16, 2022
Shane Burgos def. Charles Jourdain
Jourdain!!!
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 16, 2022
Jourdain has some hands #UFCLongIsland
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 16, 2022
Burgos sneaky good grappler #UFCLongIsland
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) July 16, 2022
Shane is a pain in the ass with the body triangle, I know first hand #UFCLongIsland
— Mike “The Lone Wolf” Trizano (@TheLoneWolfMMA) July 16, 2022
The crowd loves everything Burgos does haha man I miss crowds #UFCLongIsland
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) July 16, 2022
Featherweights never disappoint
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) July 16, 2022
Jourdain fights at such an unorthodox rhythm #UFCLongIsland
— Randy Costa (@RandyCosta135) July 16, 2022
Let’s Go @HurricaneShaneB!!!
— JOSH EMMETT (@JoshEmmettUFC) July 16, 2022
Ohh boy!!! This is one of them tasty dessert fights they sprinkle in the middle of a card! #UFCLongIsland
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 16, 2022
Lauren Murphy def. Miesha Tate
Very entertaining fight between these ladies!! Congrats to both women @LaurenMurphyMMA @MieshaTate @ufc
— Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) July 16, 2022
Yes! Way to go @LaurenMurphyMMA !! Great performance! #UFCLongIsland
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) July 16, 2022
Always respect for Miesha! But Lauren just looked like the more quicker stronger fighter out there, despite being the older of the two! #UFCLongIsland
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 16, 2022
Meisha doesn't seem to be looking like her usual self in this fight.. maybe the difference in this new weight class, Murphy is looking very good though... #UFCLongIsland
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) July 16, 2022
A non-technical analysis of Tate/Murphy: Lauren is fighting, Miesha is sparring. Our guy @cody_merrow has been all over this one with confidence.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 16, 2022
Let’s goooo @LaurenMurphyMMA looking so good! #UFCLongIsland
— Mallory Martin (@MalloryyMartin) July 16, 2022
Bad to the !! Lessgo @LaurenMurphyMMA
— PEARL GONZALEZ (@PearlGonzalez) July 16, 2022
I got murphy underdog.
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) July 16, 2022
Good to see Meisha Tate back. Let’s see if she’s been away too long #UFCLongIsland
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 16, 2022
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