Let’s try this one again, shall we?

In July 2022, a highly anticipated bout between featherweight standouts Yair Rodgriguez and Brian Ortega was ended prematurely before the conclusion of the first round after Ortega sustained a shoulder injury, promoting the referee to wave off the fight and award it to Rodriguez by TKO.

In the aftermath, all parties — and the UFC — appeared to express an interest in running it back and this weekend as part of the UFC’s return to Mexico City, in what could be considered the most appropriate venue possible, the two will lock horns once again. The bout will be Ortega’s first since that injury, while Rodriguez has fought twice since then: a submission win over Josh Emmett and a title loss against then-champ Alexander Volkanovski.

And with contendership positions up for grabs at 145 following Volkanovski’s dethroning by Ilia Topuria last weekend, both Rodriguez and Ortega know that an impressive win could usher them towards the top of the line for title talk.

For now, though, check out Rodriguez and Ortega’s first meeting below:

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