Don’t blink when Zabit Magomedsharipov welcomes Yair Rodriguez back to the octagon at UFC 227.
UFC 227 is going to get a bit flashy. Creative strikers Zabit Magomedsharipov and Yair Rodriguez are being added to the card, per a report by the L.A. Times’ Lance Pugmire. Pugmire cites UFC President Dana White as his source in this instance, so it seems the booking is all but official. UFC 227 has been the talk of the town of late, with the promotion attempting to book Georges St. Pierre vs. Nate Diaz to top the card.
Done deal for UFC 227 @STAPLESCenter Aug. 4 according to @danawhite: Yair Rodriguez vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov…
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) May 8, 2018
Rodriguez vs. Magomedsharipov is expected to unfold on the PPV portion of the card. The bout was something ‘ZaBeast’ called for following his win over Kyle Bochniak at UFC 223 last month. Magomedsharipov (15–1) has been perfect in the UFC to date, with the Bochnicak win being just the latest example of his intimidating, creative style. In three fights, he’s captured three bonuses. The Russian is also a former ACB featherweight champion.
Yair Rodriguez (10-2) got off to a perfect start in the UFC as well, going 6-0 out of the gate. That stretch included wins over B.J. Penn, Alex ‘Bruce Leeroy’ Caceres, and Andre Fili. However, Rodriguez then ran into the wall that is Frankie Edgar at UFC 211. A doctor’s stoppage TKO after two rounds put an end to his night, and Rodriguez has yet to return.
UFC 227 takes place August 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
