The UFC confirmed on Thursday that former featherweight champion Max Holloway will take on the exciting “El Pantera” Yair Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN+ 49 July 17.
Holloway (22-6-0), 29, recently snapped a two-fight losing skid with an impressive decision win over Calvin Kattar at UFC on ABC 1 in January. He is still ranked No. 1 in the division and is looking to for the trilogy fight with champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez (13-2-0, 1NC), 28, has been hampered by injuries. He last fought in 2019 where he decisioned Jeremy Stephens. Despite the inactivity, he is ranked No. 3 and can strengthen his place in the title shot conversation with a big win over Holloway.
UFC on ESPN+49 is scheduled for July 17 at a venue to be determined. Announced bouts include:
MAX HOLLOWAY (22-6-0) VS. YAIR RODRIGUEZ (13-2-0, 1NC)
ODE OSBOURNE (9-3-0, 1NC) VS. AMIR ALBAZI (14-1-0)
GURMA KUTATELADZE (12-2-0) VS. DON MADGE (9-3-1)
KHALID TAHA (13-3-0) VS. SERGEY MOROZOV (16-5-0)
CAMERON ELSE (10-5-0) VS. AARON PHILLIPS (12-4-0)
BILLY QUARANTILLO (15-3-0) VS. HERBERT BURNS (11-3-0)
MALCOLM GORDON (12-5-0) VS. FRANCISCO FIGUEIREDO (12-3-1)
MILES JOHNS (11-1-0) VS. ANDERSON DOS SANTOS (21-8-0)
RODOLFO VIEIRA (7-1-0) VS. DUSTIN STOLTZFUS (13-2-0)
AMANDA LEMOS (9-1-1) VS. MONTSERRAT RUIZ (10-1-0)
RODRIGO NASCIMENTO (8-1-0) VS. ALAN BAUDOT (8-2-0)
PHIL HAWES (11-2-0) VS. DERON WINN (7-2-0)
ISLAM MAKHACHEV (19-1-0) VS. THIAGO MOISES (15-4-0)
MATEUSZ GAMROT (18-1-0, 1NC) VS. JEREMY STEPHENS (28-18-0)
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ (14-2-0) VS. ABUBAKAR NURMAGOMEDOV (16-3-1)