Max Holloway returns; set to take on Yair Rodriguez on the 17th of July

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Max Holloway will be taking on the number 3 ranked Yair Rodriguez who is returning after almost 2 years

The self-proclaimed best boxer in MMA, Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway will be returning to action on the 17th of July. The fight will be for five rounds and is set to headline the event.

The news was confirmed by UFC President Dana White and later reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN.

The fight is surely set to decide the number one contender for the featherweight title since Holloway is ranked number one and Rodriguez, number 3.

max holloway v alexander volkanovski 1
Max Holloway

Elsewhere, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will be defending his featherweight title against number 2 ranked Brian Ortega at this year’s TUF finale.

The winner of the fight will meet the winner of Holloway vs Rodriguez.

Holloway’s last fight came against Calvin Kattar in the first UFC event of the year 2021. Blessed landed an astounding 447 strikes on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

He damaged Kattar so much that, it had Dana White worrying for his life.

Yair Rodriguez is making his return after almost 2 years

Holloway’s opponent Yair Rodriguez’s last fight came in October 2019 against Jeremy Stephens. He won the fight via. unanimous decision.

Rodriguez was then booked to face Zabit Magomedsharipov in August 2020. But an injury to the ankle ruled him out of the fight.

Dana White is unsure about the future of Yair Rodriguez in the UFC
Yair Rodriguez celebrates his victory over BJ Penn (not pictured) during the UFC Fight Night event at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 15, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

In December, it was announced that he would have to face a suspension of 6 months, retroactive to September 8. Rodriguez had failed to notify the USADA about his whereabouts during drug testing.

He was eligible to compete again in March, this year.

Rodriguez has an excellent record of 8 wins and just one loss in the UFC. The Mexican is known for his tough and robust fight mindset. He never backs down and will prove to be a massive threat for Holloway.

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