Featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov will not be fighting on Aug. 29 after his original opponent Yair Rodriguez dropped out of their scheduled matchup due to injury.
The Russian fighter made the announcement on Instagram with additional sources confirming the news to MMA Fighting on Monday.
Based on his post, Magomedsharipov said a viable option was not available to keep him interested in the upcoming August date for his return to action. He added that he “asked for either a fight for the belt or a fight with some interesting opponent with a name” but nothing came together in time
The 18-1 featherweight, who has gone undefeated thus far in his campaign with the UFC, ultimately decided to return home to Russia and wait to fight another day.
Magomedsharipov last fought in November 2019 when he earned a unanimous decision over Calvin Kattar in a main event fight in Moscow, Russia.
Since that time, the 29-year-old fighter has been rumored for the showdown with Rodriguez but after he suffered an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined for several weeks, the fight was scrapped.
In the wake of that fight falling apart, Kattar attempted to land a rematch with Magomedsharipov but obviously it didn’t happen.
Magomedsharipov vs. Rodriguez was also rumored to headline the upcoming card on Aug. 29 but now the UFC will be forced to scramble to find a new main event.
