Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Brian Ortega targeted for UFC 249
A key featherweight fight is being targeted to happen at UFC 249.
Zabit Magomedsharipov is set to fight Brian Ortega according to Marcel Dorff of MMA DNA.
Breaking News.
Ortega vs. Zabit is in the works for #UFC249. According to our sources It's close being finalized. https://t.co/Xa2nRhNJEv
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) February 6, 2020
Zabit Magomedsharipov recently said in an interview with a Russian outlet that he would be fighting at UFC 249. We now know who his opponent will be.
@zabit_magomedsharipov the next match will be held on April 19 at #UFC249. His opponent will definitely not be “Korean Zombie” and not Yair Rodriguez, according to Zabit himself. His opponent is in the TOP-5. Thus, Brian Ortega will most likely become an opponent, since Alexander Volkanovsky will have a rematch with Max Holloway, as officially announced by Dana White!,” Red Fury MMA, a Russian outlet posted on Instagram.
Magomedsharipov is 18-1 as a pro and coming off a decision win over Calvin Kattar at UFC Moscow. He headlined the card but was only a three-round fight because he was moved to the main event on short notice. Before that, he beat Jeremy Stephens by decision. In his other four UFC wins he submitted Brandon Davis, Sheymon Moraes, and Mike Santiago while beating Kyle Bochniak by decision.
Brian Ortega, meanwhile, has not fought since he suffered a TKO loss to Max Holloway at UFC 231. It was his first loss as a pro and was scheduled to fight Chan Sung Jung at UFC Busan. But, he tore his ACL and pulled out of the bout.
In his UFC career, he became the first person stop Frankie Edgar as he knocked him out in the first round. He has finished every one of his wins including submitting Cub Swanson, Renato Moicano, and Diego Brandao. He has also knocked out Clay Guida and Thiago Tavares.
This should be considered a number one contender bout, with Alexander Volkanovski expected to rematch Max Holloway according to Dana White. It also adds a very intriguing bout to UFC 249 that features Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson and Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade 2.
