Get ready for a featherweight Fight Night banger! Former champion, Max Holloway (aka “Blessed”) will take on #3 ranked Yair Rodriguez this November. Holloway will look to climb back to reclaim the title belt after back-to-back losses to current champion, Alexander Volkanovski. Meanwhile Rodriguez will fight to get closer to a title shot. Who’s got what it takes?
The “Blessed” is entering this match off the back of an outstanding win to Calvin Kattar earlier this January, which he snatched by unanimous decision. Despite this, Holloway has a bone to pick with current champion, Volkanovski, who he took a beating to, twice in a row by unanimous decision, and a split decision. As a result, he also lost his belt.
Holloway’s championship glory days have seen him take straight wins against the likes of Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo (who he defeated twice), Anthony Pettise and Ricard Lamas. Can he prove that he’s still championship material?
Chasing Holloway’s tail closely is Rodriguez. This fight will be his first since October 2019 where he defeated Jeremy Stephens. He was scheduled to fight last August against Zabit Magomedsharipov, but his opponent pulled out due to injury. Prior, he was suspended for six months for failing to notify the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of his location for drug testing.
Despite being out of practice, Rodriguez has seen a string of wins against the likes of Chan Sung Jung, BJ Penn, Alex Caceres and Andre Fili. Known to be a formidable striker, this match will no doubt be a crucial opportunity for him to make an impact on the division, and improve his chances at the title shot. Can he do it?
TBC for co-headline fights.