Zabit Confirms Main Event Clash With ‘El Pantera’ On Aug. 29

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It looks like we’re going to see one of the most exciting matchups in the UFC’s featherweight division later this summer, as surging contender Zabit Magomedsharipov is expected to meet Yair Rodriguez in a main event on Aug. 29 from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

There have been rumors going around about this matchup for about a month now but Zabit confirmed the booking in an Instagram post on Thursday (shown below), which also included a pretty gnarly fight poster.

“Two years later, on the third attempt, this fight will still take place,” wrote Zabit.

Magomedsharipov, 29, has been unstoppable since making his UFC debut back in 2017. The former ACB champion has produced an unscathed record of 6-0 inside of the Octagon while defeating the likes of Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar. A victory over Rodriguez may be all the Russian needs to secure his first official UFC title shot, but it’s also the most dangerous fight he’s ever had. Zabit has looked dominant against each and every one of his UFC opponents to date, but “El Pantera” is on another level when it comes to creativity and fight-finishing ability.

Rodriguez, 27, has been itching for a shot at the division’s best since entering the promotion back in 2014 following a successful stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America. “El Pantera” was humbled by Frankie Edgar back in 2017 for his first and only loss inside of the Octagon, but the Mexican contender has rebounded to score wins over Chan Sung Jung and Stephens. Fight fans have always wondered what Rodriguez could do against the division’s best strikers so it will be interesting to see how he does against the rangy Magomedsharipov late next month.

UFC’s upcoming event on Aug. 29 will also feature a light heavyweight showdown between former title challenger Anthony Smith and promising contender Aleksandar Rakic.

Stick with Mania for more fight card for UFC’s Aug. 29th event.