Belal Muhammad makes stunning claim about Yair Rodriguez's fighting future
Belal Muhammad took to X with a curious claim about training partner and friend Yair Rodriguez, suggesting that the latter's days at featherweight are over.
Belal Muhammad may have just revealed Yair Rodriguez's next step, though it could also amount to banter between him and a fan on social media. Regardless, if Muhammad's words are to be believed, then Rodriguez is planning a move up to lightweight, which would be a significant career change for 'El Pantera,' who has struggled for form as of late.
Belal Muhammad teases Yair Rodriguez's plans
While Yair Rodriguez himself has not confirmed the claim, Belal Muhammad recently stated, in a fan interaction on X, that Rodriguez is set to move to lightweight. He said as much in his reaction to Rafael Fiziev's second-round knockout of Manuel Torres at UFC Fight Night 280 in Baku, Azerbaijan this past Saturday. According to Muhammad, a bout between Fiziev and Rodriguez is one he'd be more than eager to watch:
"Fiziev and Yair would be fire."
Fizev and Yair would be fire
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 27, 2026
It's easy to see why. Both Fiziev and Rodriguez are dynamic strikers with explosive knockout power. A matchup would almost certainly produce fireworks if it remains a pure standup affair. However, Muhammad's desire to see the matchup take place drew confusion from a fan, who asked how exactly it would happen given that both Fiziev and Rodriguez fight in different weight classes, and whether it would entail Fiziev cutting to featherweight. It was at that point, though, that 'Remember the Name' revealed that Rodriguez will be moving up to lightweight instead.
"Nah Yair is moving up."
Nah Yair is moving up
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 27, 2026
Both Fiziev and Rodriguez have been on recent rough patches. Although Fiziev's win over Torres is a step in the right direction, he was previously 1-4 in his last five fights, including a second-round TKO loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 315. Meanwhile, Rodriguez is 1-2 in his last three fights, with his recent three-round dominance over Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire at UFC 314 marking his first win since his second-round submission of Josh Emmett at UFC 284, where he became the interim featherweight champion.
A lightweight move might reinvigorate his career, but talk of the decision has come only from Muhammad, a friend and training partner of Rodriguez, as both men are coached by Mike Valle. But until Rodriguez himself confirms it, it remains a rumor.
