Report: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Yair Rodríguez Targeted for UFC 254 on October 24th.

Mandatory Credit: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC

The featherweight pairing between top contenders, Zabit Magomedsharipov, and Yair 'El Pantera' Rodríguez, is currently in the works for a rescheduling at UFC 254 on October 24th. - with the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi the current frontrunners to host the card.

Zabit and Rodríguez were finally slated to meet in a long-awaited bout at UFC Fight Night Vegas on August 29th. - taking headlining honours. Forced from the curtain closer, striking ace, Rodríguez withdrew from the matchup, citing an ankle injury. Zabit was ultimately removed from the card entirely - in favour of this reworked matching.

Promotional perfect contender, Zabit last featured at UFC Fight Night Moscow in November - taking a unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar over the course of a three-round headlining tie.

Chihuahua native, Rodríguez made his most recent Octagon appearance at UFC Fight Night Boston - himself scoring a unanimous judging win over Jeremy Stephens, in a co-main event rematch. TASS reporter, Igor Lazorin was first to report of the promotion's intentions to rework the high-stakes matchup.

6-0 in the UFC since his promotional bow back at UFC Fight Night Rotterdam back in September 2017 - Dagestani striker, Zabit has picked up four post-fight bonuses already in his brief Octagon stint.

In highlight wins, Zabit scored his most notable career triumph over the aforenoted, Kattar - adding the Bostonian to a winning streak which includes, the above mentioned, Stephens, Brandon Davis, Kyle Bochniak, Sheymon Moraes, and Mike Santiago.

Another standout in the UFC's continually developing featherweight ranks, Rodríguez has rebounded successfully following his first promotional blemish opposite former lightweight best, Frankie Edgar back at UFC 211 in May 2017.

In victories since, the 27-year-old has taken a klaxon beating comeback knockout triumph over one-time title challenger, Chan Sung Jung - to go along with his recent win over veteran, Stephens. From ten Octagon outings, Rodríguez has managed to secure an 8-1-1 résumé.