According to UFC president, Dana White – the promotion are currently reworking a long-awaited pairing of perennial featherweight contenders, Zabit Magomedsharipov, and Yair ‘El Pantera’ Rodríguez after a couple of recently failed matchups.
The latest instalment of a failed bout between Zabit and Rodríguez came on August 29th. The two were tentatively targeted to headline UFC Vegas 8 in August – with the latter forced to withdraw due to injury. The pairing was then linked with a move to next weekend’s UFC 254 event on ‘Fight Island’ with the bout ultimately failing to come to fruition.
Out of action since his short-notice three-round main event win over fellow streaking contender, Calvin Kattar at UFC Fight Night Moscow in November of last year – Zabit took home a unanimous decision win despite a rallying effort from Boston striker, Kattar.
Just over a year removed from his most recent Octagon appearance, Chihuahua native, Rodríguez scored a high-profile unanimous decision win over Jeremy ‘Lil’ Heathen’ Stephens at UFC Fight Night Boston following a ‘No Contest’ result in their first matchup at UFC Fight Night Mexico City the month prior.
The above-mentioned organization leader, White explained how the promotion was “working” on rescheduling a meeting between Zabit and Rodríguez at a media day this afternoon ahead of UFC Fight Island 6 tomorrow.
“Yeah, we’re working on something right now for him (Zabit Magomedsharipov), he’ll get another fight here,” White said before MMA Junkie reporter, John Morgan asked for a possible next opponent. “Yair (Rodriguez).”
Dana White confirma que se está trabajando para hacer @zabeast_mma VS @panteraufc pronto #UFCFightIsland6 pic.twitter.com/jgw4UDjEUK
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) October 16, 2020
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Hoping to edge their way to a premier featherweight championship opportunity, White has already outlined how the winner of this weekend’s headliner between Brian ‘T-City’ Ortega, and ‘The Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung is the number-one contender to champion, Alexander Volkanovski’s throne.
