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UFC 314 - presser brawl between Yair Rodriguez and Diego Lopes teases potential bout for Dana White to confirm

UFC 314 - presser brawl between Yair Rodriguez and Diego Lopes teases potential bout for Dana White to confirm

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 11, 2025, 09:24 IST

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At the UFC 314 press conference, Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez engaged in a heated exchange, sparked by Rodriguez's comments on nationality representation. Lopes, taking offense to Rodriguez's remarks, confronted him, leading to a Spanish-laced verbal brawl that required security intervention. The incident has fueled speculation about a potential future fight between the two featherweights, possibly in Guadalajara.

UFC 314 - presser brawl between Yair Rodriguez and Diego Lopes teases potential bout for Dana White to confirm

Diego Lopes (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) & Yair Rodriguez (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Seems like Bryce Mitchell and Jean Silva were not the only show-stealers at the UFC 314 press conference on April 10, 2025. While the crowd and viewers were anticipating an ugly brawl between the two fighters because of their recent war of words, it was two other fighters who were almost on the edge of getting physical after a two-way rundown of words at each other. First-time title contender Diego Lopes and featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez had an ugly exchange of words in Spanish to the extent that the translator was also left speechless. The brawl might just have established another potential fight for Dana White to confirm for any upcoming showdown.

Yair Rodriguez and Diego Lopes have a heated exchange of words over unfavorable comments exchanged between the two

The bitterness between the two fighters broke out when Diego Lopes was asked about a previously made comment by Yair Rodriguez on the nationality being represented by the fighters. On the media day held on April 9, 2025, Rodriguez was asked how he felt about the online trolls being directed towards Lopes for the latter being originally from Brazil and now staying and training in Mexico. Rodriguez did put out a calculated reply.
“I’ve been living in the U.S. for over 10 years, my girlfriend is American, and I speak English—and now, because of that, I’m representing the American flag to gain followers. I love this country, but I’m not going to say I’m American. I’m not. I’m Mexican, and I’m proud of it. Yes, I have a problem with that, not with Diego…My issue is, what’s up with people?...I just don’t agree with it.�?br/>During the UFC 314 press conference, Lopes was asked if he had anything to say about it, to which he replied, “I will tell you what, man, I am very grateful to Mexico. It’s not our stories. Our life stories are completely different. I am so grateful for what Mexico has given me. I represent both countries and if you are gonna talk, you are gonna talk, I don’t care.�?br/>

UFC 314: Pre-Fight Press Conference

Previously, Lopes had once mentioned that he not only represents Mexico and Brazil but also the entire Latin America. The feud between the two fighters escalated when the Brazilian fighter was asked if, in a situation where both Lopes and Rodriguez win their respective bouts, will they be facing each other at Guadalajara this year. Lopes took up the opportunity and taunted Rodriguez for his recent two-match losing skid by asking the questioner about it.
This was the point where the ugliness broke out as El Pantera lashed out with a curse word in Spanish that translates to “p**sy�? The brawl erupted instantly, as both fighters had to be separated by the security.

The occasional translation during the brawl revealed the fighters talking about their respective teams and threats thrown at each other. If the bout ever materialises in Guadalajara, fans might be in for another high-octane bout between the two fighters.
Also read: “My visualization goes towards that”�?Former interim featherweight champion teases his future plan ahead of UFC 314
This recent incident might just bring in another announcement from Dana White’s team, after the careful assessment of UFC 314 results. Only time will tell if we will ever see the fighters clash against each other.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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