Two of the UFC’s top 5 featherweights, Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez, are set to battle at UFC Fight Night 197.
The UFC confirmed the matchup earlier today on Twitter. it was originally scheduled for July but it was postponed when Holloway pulled out with an injury.
Holloway (22-6-0), 29, is the No. 1 contender and decisioned Calvin Kattar in his last fight at UFC on ABC 1 in January. A win over Rodriguez will likely maintain his heavy favourite status to rematch champion Alexander Volkanovski.
.@dc_mma https://t.co/NFjBlI18PC pic.twitter.com/mhgcDBdoIM
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) August 26, 2021
Meanwhile Rodriguez (13-2-0, 1NC), 28, has not fought since decisioning Jeremy Stephens at UFC on ESPN 6 in October 2019. He was suspended for six months by USADA for being unavailable for drug testing.
https://twitter.com/panteraufc/status/1331678778821586955?s=20
UFC Fight Night 197 is scheduled for Nov. 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Scheduled bouts include:
THIAGO MOISES (15-5-0) VS. JOEL ALVAREZ (18-2-0)
JULIO ARCE (17-4-0) VS. SONG YADONG (17-5-1, 1NC)
CORTNEY CASEY (9-9-0) VS. LIANA JOJUA (8-4-0)
ERYK ANDERS (14-5-1, 1NC) VS. ROMAN DOLIDZE (9-1-0)
COLIN ANGLIN (8-2-0) VS. SEAN WOODSON (8-1-0)
FELICIA SPENCER (8-3-0) VS. LEAH LETSON (5-1-0)
BEN ROTHWELL (39-13-0) VS. MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA (18-7-0)
LANDO VANNATA (12-5-2) VS. TUCKER LUTZ (12-1-0)
#8 JESSICA EYE (15-10-0, 1NC) VS. #12 ANDREA LEE (12-5-0)
OVINCE ST. PREUX (25-16-0) VS. PHILIPE LINS (14-5-0)
JAILTON ALMEIDA (14-2-0) VS. DANILO MARQUES (11-3-0)
#1 MAX HOLLOWAY (22-6-0) VS. #3 YAIR RODRIGUEZ (13-2-0, 1NC)
More fights are expected to be announced.