Mexican featherweight Yair Rodriguez was released by the UFC after he reportedly declined two fight offers. The obvious landing spot was Combate Americans; the Spanish language promotion is doing huge numbers in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, and even beat Bellator recently in the USA.
Combate offered ‘El Pantera’ a contract that was reportedly higher than what he was making, above $50,000 to show and $50,000 to win. When Combate withdrew the offer, there was speculation that it was a sign the UFC still coveted ‘El Pantera’.
That was apparently the case.
“The Yair Rodriguez/UFC situation has apparently done a 180,” tweeted ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “Rodriguez vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov is now verbally agreed to for UFC 228 in September.”
https://twitter.com/bokamotoESPN/status/1002608545446023168
With ESPN holding broadcast rights for the UFC for five years starting next year, ESPN reporters are likely getting unique access.
UFC 228 will take place on September 8, 2018, The location and card are not yet public. Yair Rodriguez vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov is an incredible addition. The fight was originally scheduled for UFC UFC 227: Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 on August 4, 2018, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
