5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC featherweight division

#4. 'The Korean Zombie' vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov

UFC fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of Zabit Magomedsharipov. The Russian has been out of action since his unanimous decision victory over Calvin Kattar in 2019 due to lingering medical issues. Earlier this year, his coach Mark Henry revealed that Magomedsharipov's return shouldn't be too far away.

Mark Henry's tweet regarding Zabit Magomedsharipov [Image via @xBUZZYB3ARx on Twitter]

Magomedsharipov is an incredibly unique fighter. The dynamic Dagestani has sensational striking skills. He throws wild kicks with no hesitation as he isn't afraid of being taken down. On the mat, he is a lethal submission threat and has an array of finishes on his record.

It wouldn't make sense to throw Magomedsharipov straight into the deep end upon his return. An immediate title shot is out of the question as he has lost his spot in the rankings as a result of his extended hiatus. Max Holloway isn't an ideal matchup either, considering the Hawaiian's scintillating run of form.

Perhaps a Magomedsharipov vs. 'The Korean Zombie' bout makes sense for all parties involved. At 35, Chan Sung Jung is among the older fighters in the division and has taken quite a bit of damage in his recent fights. From the UFC's point of view, a bout between the two fan-favorites will attract quite a bit of attention and is an ideal addition to a pay-per-view card.

'The Korean Zombie' has called out the Russian in the past and the duo came close to squaring off a few years ago. Jung is coming off a failed attempt at the title and will likely need a statement win if he is to realize his championship aspirations.

'The Korean Zombie' vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov [Image via @ESPNKnockout on Twitter]

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#3. Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez

What makes the UFC's featherweight division so special is that one can match up any two fighters in the top 10 and the result would be a barnburner. Some of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC roster compete at 145 pounds. With so many contenders vying for the coveted No.1 spot, fans are in for some highly intriguing bouts down the line.

Two of the most fun-to-watch fighters in the featherweight division are Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez. Both are coming off losses but showed tremendous heart in their most recent appearances inside the octagon.

In his most recent outing, Ortega fought for the title against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski in September 2021. 'T-City' put in an incredible display of toughness as he managed to make it to the final bell of the championship fight despite taking tons of damage. Additionally, he came tantalizingly close to winning the belt after putting the champion in some precarious positions.

Meanwhile, Yair Rodriguez has endured a tumultuous run over the last few years. After his two-fight series with Jeremy Stephens in 2019, the Mexican was on the sidelines for over two years. When he finally returned, he took on a red-hot Max Holloway, who was coming off a hugely impressive beatdown of Calvin Kattar.

This was always going to be a tough task for Rodriguez. Nevertheless, he gave Holloway one of the toughest fights of the Hawaiian's career, pushing 'Blessed' to the absolute limit in a five-round barnburner. Despite succumbing to a unanimous decision loss, 'El Pantera' earned the respect of the MMA community that night.

A potential Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez bout has all the ingredients of an absolute war. Both fighters' all-action approach and finishing ability makes this a highly intriguing stylistic clash and this matchup deserves to headline a UFC Fight Night.

With Ortega ranked No.2 and Rodriguez at No.3, this would be a title eliminator bout, making it a high-stakes affair. It would be a no-brainer to go ahead with this booking and it appears as though the UFC have obliged. The duo are reportedly set to square off later this year.