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What Yair’s Injury Means for Zabit

Late Tuesday night (ET), Dana White confirmed that Yair Rodriguez is officially out of his Aug. 29th bout against Zabit Magomedsharipov due to injury (ankle).

The Aug. 29th headliner was set to serve as a title eliminator between two of the top featherweights in the world, and there was a good chance that the winner would have been next to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the gold.

This news is a major bummer; not just for fans, but for Zabit as well. The third ranked featherweight had this to say on Twitter:

The frustration is evident, and rightfully so. Zabit is (6-0) in the UFC and someone that hardcore fans have had their eye on for awhile.

Zabit’s win streak is worth noting because it’s entirely possible that the matchmakers offer him a title fight, now that his bout with Rodriguez is scrapped.

If they decide to go in another direction though, there are a few viable options in the stacked 145lb division.

1. Max Holloway

Brian Ortega and Korean Zombie are supposed to fight sometime before the end of 2020, leaving the former featherweight champ Max Holloway as the only guy ranked right near Zabit without a dance partner.

Holloway wants a third fight with Volkanovski, but the champ is disinterested at the moment. Therefore, if ‘Blessed’ decides not to wait, fighting Zabit would make a lot of sense for both parties.

2. Calvin Kattar

Running this fight back in inevitable, so why not right now? Zabit defeated Kattar by decision back in Nov. 2019, but the fight was very close. In fact, most people believe Kattar would have won if the bout was five rounds.

Kattar has earned impressive back-to-back wins (J. Stephens/D. Ige) since the loss to Zabit, which has solidified him as a true contender in the division.

Kattar, having fought just a few weeks ago, can probably get himself ready for Aug. 29th if the fight is made.


*Disclaimer- If Ortega and Zombie do not fight each other, either would make sense to take on Zabit*

The injury to Rodriguez is a tough blow for both he and Zabit, but there are other paths to the belt for Zabit. The only question now is who, when, and where?

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