For [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag], the [autotag]Zabit Magomedsharipov[/autotag] debacle has to be settled at some point.
Rodriguez (13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who hasn’t competed since October 2019, is ready to return to the octagon after being sidelined due to an injury and a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency whereabouts violation.
He was scheduled to face Magomedsharipov at UFC Fight Night 175 on Aug. 29, but was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury. The 28-year-old was then hit with a six-month USADA suspension, retroactive to Sept. 8, following three “whereabouts failures” during a 12-month period.
Magomedsharipov also has been inactive of late. His last octagon appearance was in November 2019 when he defeated Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision in a three-round main event. After Rodriguez withdrew from their bout for a second time due to injury – the first being UFC 228 back in September 2018, Magomedsharipov accused him of ducking.
But whether Rodriguez ends up facing Magomedsharipov (18-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) next or not, he vows that his time will come.
“Just to be clear, he was talking a lot of crap, saying that I didn’t want to fight him, that I was faking injuries and stuff like that,” Rodriguez told ESPN. “Nobody does that. We’re all here to fight anybody at any point, and I’m sure I’ll fight him at some point, no matter what. This is a fight that has to happen. I’m f***ing dying to fight him with all the crap he’s talking about. His moment will come when it has to come.”
Rodriguez is currently in New Mexico helping Donald Cerrone prepare for his upcoming fight with Diego Sanchez. He wants to return by summer against the highest-ranked opponent possible, in what he hopes would be a No. 1 contender bout.
“I would like to fight as soon as possible, to be honest,” Rodriguez said. “As I’ve been getting ready to fight – I don’t have anything in specific right now. I don’t have a specific date that I’m scheduled to fight or any name as for now, but I think I’ll have some more information in the next week or two, but I can’t wait to compete. Probably July 17 will be a nice date for me, and I’m just getting prepared and ready for whatever comes.”
He continued, “In an ideal scenario, I would like to face the champion, right? Because that’s the fight that everybody wants. But from there, going back in the rankings, I would take it as they come. I want the champion. If not, the No.1, if not, the No. 2, if not, No. 3. At this point, it doesn’t matter who I fight. Winning my fight would mean fighting for a title next. So, to be honest, I’m here to fight anybody.”
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