The hotly anticipated featherweight fight between Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez has a new date.
On Friday, ESPN was first to report that Holloway vs. Rodriguez was lined up to serve as the main event of the UFC’s November 13 card. The duo had originally been expected to face off atop UFC on ESPN 26 back in July, until an injury to Holloway forced the bout to be pushed back.
If the date holds, Holloway vs. Rodriguez will top a card that includes names like Jessica Eye, Ovince Saint Preux, and Ben Rothwell.
Holloway (22-6) will look to put himself in position for another shot at his old title with a win at the event. Since losing back-to-back fights against Alexander Volkanovski (who fights this weekend at UFC 266), Holloway stormed back into the win column against Calvin Kattar in July.
With that dominant win plus his high profile, another fight with Volkanovski, or alternately against Brian Ortega, should be an easy sell.
Yair Rodriguez (13-2, 1NC) will look to play spoiler. “El Pantera” is coming off a win over Jeremy Stephens in October 2019. Lack of activity has badly hampered the Mexican featherweight, who has not competed in two years. After numerous bouts with Zabit Magomedsharipov fell through, Rodriguez moved on to Holloway, only for bad luck to strike again.
The UFC’s November 13 event does not yet have a venue, location, or broadcast plan officially announced, but the promotion is expected to hold all Fight Night events this year at the Apex in Las Vegas. The following bouts have been reported for the card to date:
Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodríguez
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Philipe Lins
Jessica Eye vs. Andrea Lee
Lando Vannata vs. Tucker Lutz
Ben Rothwell vs. Marcos Rogério de Lima
Felicia Spencer vs. Leah Letson
Collin Anglin vs. Sean Woodson
Eryk Anders vs. Roman Dolidze
Danilo Marques vs. Jailton Almeida
Cortney Casey vs. Liana Jojua
Julio Arce vs. Song Yadong
