UFC president Dana White said that featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov will fight again within the coming three months of 2021.
Zabit had a difficult 2020 as he didn’t fight at all due to a proposed bout with Yair Rodriguez falling through on two occasions. The UFC keeps trying to book this awesome matchup, but it keeps falling apart.
Both these fighters have been scheduled to fight each other previously but the fight got canceled due to several pull-outs. This is the fourth time both of them are preparing to fight each other.
UFC has been trying to make this fight happen for years. They were scheduled once again to headline the 29th August card. However, Rodriguez was forced to withdrew due to a high ankle sprain. Magomedsharipov then went back to Russia after not getting a replacement opponent. The fight was rebooked for UFC 254 on October 24 but again it was scrapped.
Then the featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez received a suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency for violating the UFC’s anti-doping partner USADA for failing to file his location for testing three times in the past 12-months. He did not receive it for failing any drug test but instead, he was not available for testing on several occasions.
What’s Next for Zabit?
At this point, it seems like it’s in Magomedsharipov’s best interest to move on. After all, it’s not his fault Rodriguez keeps pulling out of the fight. According to White, the promotion is likely going to go in another direction and give Magomedsharipov another opponent. The UFC head tells fans to expect Zabt to fight in the Octagon in the next three months.
“Yeah, we’re looking at (zabit) in the next three months. Get him something,” White told ESPN’s, Brett Okamoto. “I don’t know (about Rodriguez). We might move on from that one.”
If you’re Zabit Magomedsharipov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz, at this point you probably just want to get your client a fight. After all, the Russian didn’t fight at all in 2020. Waiting for Rodriguez seems risky at this point as he’s a question mark to even make it to the fight.
Chan Sung Jung has said that he is ready for his potential next challenge. Zombie is coming off of a surprising one-sided decision defeat to Brian Ortega on Fight Island in October. It was a disappointing loss for TKZ, who was coming off of back-to-back knockout wins over Frankie Edgar and Renato Moicano. However, he is still ranked No. 5 overall in the UFC featherweight rankings and wants to make a come back soon and is eager to get back to the win column. Korean Zombie has called out top featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov and has laid down plans for 2021.
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