POP MMA

Yair Rodriguez vs Steve Garcia set for UFC 335 as 'El Pantera' returns after 20 months

Published: . MMA.

Former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez will face Steve Garcia at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas, according to MMA Junkie and Garcia's own Instagram post.

Yair Rodriguez vs Steve Garcia UFC 335 featherweight bout graphic
Graphic: POP MMA

Former UFC interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez is finally heading back to the Octagon. Rodriguez will face No. 14-ranked Steve Garcia in a three-round featherweight bout at UFC 335 on Saturday, December 12, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, MMA Junkie reported on Tuesday, November 10.

According to MMA Junkie, the matchup was first reported by Russian outlet Dvoyechka MMA, and Garcia then posted a fight poster on his verified Instagram account last week listing UFC 335, December 12 and Las Vegas. MMA Mania, MMAScene and MiddleEasy also reported the booking based on Garcia's post. The UFC has not yet made an official announcement.

Rodriguez's long road back

Rodriguez, 33, has not fought since April 2025, when he beat Patricio Pitbull by unanimous decision at UFC 314, with all three judges scoring it 30-27. That win snapped a two-fight skid that included stoppage losses to Alexander Volkanovski in their undisputed title fight and to Brian Ortega in their February 2024 rematch.

The Mexican star was scheduled to headline Noche UFC against Jean Silva in September but withdrew several weeks before the card with an injury. In a Spanish-language statement at the time, he said he had tried to keep preparing but decided that competing in those conditions would be irresponsible, and that his priority was to recover fully. He did not specify the injury.

By fight night, Rodriguez will have been out for roughly 20 months. MMAScene notes that injuries and layoffs have limited him to eight appearances since the start of 2019.

Garcia looks to rebound

Garcia (19-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is coming off the first loss of his recent run. Diego Lopes stopped "Mean Machine" by second-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June, ending a seven-fight winning streak. That streak included wins over Calvin Kattar, David Onama and Chase Hooper, with six of the seven victories coming by stoppage.

In his Instagram caption, Garcia said he was preparing for another fight before the end of the year and billed the bout as "Mean Machine" vs "El Pantera."

UFC 335 lineup

UFC 335 is headlined by Charles Oliveira vs Diego Lopes for the BMF title. MMA Junkie lists the following bouts for the card:

The Rodriguez vs Garcia fight puts two of the division's most exciting strikers on the same card as Lopes, who beat Garcia in June and now challenges Oliveira in the main event.

Source: MMA Junkie: UFC 335 adds featherweight banger pitting contenders, MiddleEasy: Steve Garcia announces Yair Rodriguez fight for UFC 335 on December 12, MMA Mania: Yair Rodriguez returns against knockout artist Steve Garcia at UFC 335, MMAScene: Yair Rodriguez vs Steve Garcia set for UFC 335 in Las Vegas.