UFC targeting Drako Rodriguez vs. Aiemann Zahabi for Dec. 19 in Las Vegas

A bantamweight fight is in the works for the UFC’s final event of 2020.

On Dec. 19 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, bantamweights Drako Rodriguez and Aiemann Zahabi will square off, pending bout finalization.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the targeted matchup Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Rodriguez (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his promotional debut after earning his UFC deal on Dana White’s Contender Series in September. In his contract-earning performance, Rodriguez submitted fellow rising prospect Mana Martinez by first-round triangle choke.

Zahabi (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) hasn’t competed since May 2019 and will look to snap back-to-back losses. After a successful promotional debut against Reginaldo Vieira in 2017, Zahabi was knocked out by Ricardo Ramos and lost a unanimous decision to Vince Morales. Zahabi trains under his brother, Firas Zahabi, the longtime coach of former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

With the addition, the UFC’s Dec. 19 lineup includes:

• Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev
• Geoff Neal vs. Stephen Thompson
• Rob Font vs. Marlon Moraes
• Antonio Braga Neto vs. Deron Winn
• Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett
• Rick Glenn vs. Carlton Minus
• Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell
• Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
• Belal Muhammad vs. Dhiego Lima

• Drako Rodriguez vs. Aiemann Zahabi