Rodriguez submits Emmett to win UFC interim featherweight title

Yair Rodriguez is leaving Perth, Australia, with a shiny belt around his waist.

Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett with a triangle choke at the 4:19 mark of the second round in the UFC 284 co-main event Saturday night to win the interim featherweight title.

"El Pantera" is now the second Mexico native to currently hold UFC gold after Brandon Moreno claimed the undisputed flyweight championship in January.

Rodriguez landed a flying knee on Emmett but wound up on his back. However, moments later, he locked in the submission and forced a tap.

This was the third title fight in UFC history to end with a triangle choke after Tony Ferguson beat Kevin Lee in 2017 and Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Justin Gaethje in 2020.

Rodriguez versus Emmett was wild from start to finish. Rodriguez hurt Emmett early in the first round with a body kick and then again with an elbow in the second. Emmett stunned Rodriguez with a punch in the first round and landed several ground-and-pound shots, but Rodriguez made it into the second and even landed some offense from his back.

Rodriguez ultimately had more success in the stand-up department, staying busy and constantly attacking Emmett with a variety of kicks to the legs, body, and head. Emmett threw big overhand punches but struggled to connect, especially in the second.

With the victory, Rodriguez has now won two straight, while Emmett's five-fight winning streak ended. Emmett lost by submission for the first time in his professional career.