The featherweight division takes center stage this weekend at UFC 308, with reigning champion Ilia ‘El Matador’ Topuria set to defend his title against former king Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway in the main event of the evening.
From Volkanovski to Lopes, a whole host of top featherweight contenders have flown out to witness the title fight in Abu Dhabi – including popular Mexican striker Yair Rodriguez, who has now offered a crucial update on when we could see him back in the octagon.
Yair Rodriguez offers update on UFC return and potential comeback opponents
Former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez has experienced a stop-start few years in the UFC, having competed just a handful of times since his unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway back in November 2021.
In fact, the last time we saw ‘El Pantera’ in the octagon was all the way back in February, when the flashy striker suffered a third-round submission loss in his rematch with Brian Ortega.
Thankfully, it shouldn’t be too long before Rodriguez makes his return, telling MMA Junkie earlier this week how: “Everything is perfect, my health is perfect and I’m just waiting to hear back from the UFC about when my next fight is going to be.
“It looks like February [2025] or something like that; no opponent yet, but the date is approximately February… I was pushing to fight before this year ended, but I guess the UFC had other plans on their books.”
According to Rodriguez, the promotion is planning on hosting a Fight Night card in Mexico City sometime in February 2025 and he believes “that’s where they want my comeback to be.”
When asked whether he has a comeback opponent in mind, Rodriguez stated that he’d be willing to fight anybody that the UFC offers him, as long as they get him back on track to a title shot.
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“I always look to fight somebody who is in front of me or somebody that pushes me to fight for the title again… Names that have been mentioned to me in the past have been Diego Lopes, who is attending this event as well, and Arnold Allen.”
Diego Lopes is reportedly the UFC 308 main event backup fighter, having recently beaten Ortega at UFC 306 in September, whilst Arnold Allen is coming off an impressive UD win over Giga Chikadze at UFC 304.
“We’ll see how that goes, I’m just waiting to hear back from the UFC and whatever they want, I’m here to fight.”
Yair Rodriguez makes his prediction for UFC 308: Topuria vs Holloway
“It’s going to be an interesting match,” Rodriguez said on the featherweight title showdown between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway.
“I think Max Holloway has more tools, and he’s a super smart fighter,” noted the Mexican, who was outlanded 159-230 in significant strikes when he stepped in to face ‘Blessed’ back in 2021.
“Topuria is a real power puncher, [but] I just think if Max Holloway is smart enough to keep his distance [to where] he can win the fight… My prediction is Max Holloway.”
UFC 308: Topuria vs Holloway goes down this weekend, live from the Etihad Arena in Saudi Arabia.
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