Max Holloway is preparing to take on Yair Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night 197. This will be his first fight since January 2021, and he will look to cement his position as the number 1 contender for the featherweight title.

Holloway and Rodriguez were booked to fight in July this year, but because of an injury, Holloway pulled out of the fight.

According to many, ‘Blessed’ should’ve been challenging for the title instead of having this fight. When asked if it mattered to him to keep the matchup, Holloway said, “It didn’t matter, I didn’t care… There’s a lot of guys at the elevator, you know, they’re trying to go straight to the top. Since UFC don’t have a structure, a tournament structure, there’s a lot of guys at the elevator. And the line is super long.”

“I ain’t about that elevator life. You can find me at the stairs. I’ll be running up and down that bad boy wherever we gotta go. The UFC did tell us that we didn’t have to take it. But I sat down with my coaches. We all looked at each other, we all agreed, we’re not elevator divas… If you believe you’re the best fighter in the world, that’s what you should be doing. You may end up fighting anyone, anytime,” he added.

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This may have been a clear dig at ‘El Pantera’ who knows that a win on Saturday will help him secure a title shot.

Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez – The matchup

MMA fans are in for a treat with this matchup. Both men are exciting and entertaining fighters, with Holloway also being one of the fan favorites.

‘Blessed‘ is coming off an impressive victory over Calvin Kattar. He dominated his opponent throughout the fight, but it was the end of the fight which caught everyone’s eye. He was seen talking to the commentators while dodging his opponent’s punches, while not even looking at him.

It made the fans love him even more. Holloway considers himself as the best boxer in the UFC and will look to use his striking to his advantage.

‘El Pantera‘ will enter the octagon after over two years. His last fight was against Jeremy Stephens and he is currently 13-2-1 in his career. Rodriguez is an exciting fighter, and Holloway also knows that. The #3 ranked featherweight is explosive and can pose a threat to his opponent. He uses his kicks to great effect and can trouble Holloway.

The fight is important for both men because a win here will most definitely ensure a title shot for them. Who do you think comes out on top?

WATCH THIS STORY – UFC Fight Night: Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez: Date, Time, Live Stream, and More