Yair Rodriguez has lined up his next opponent…
The 30-year-old Mexican professional mixed martial artist, interim champion, has verbally agreed to fight featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 on July 8, according to multiple sources.
The UFC is targeting the featherweight title unification bout as part of its annual International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
Contracts have not yet been issued or signed.
The 145-pound fight could serve as the pay-per-view headliner, although the UFC has not yet made that official.
Volkanovski (25-2) is coming off a failed bid to become a two-weight champion in February. The Australian moved up to 155 pounds at UFC 284 and lost a unanimous decision to lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.
Volkanovski and his team have been campaigning for an immediate rematch against Makhachev, as the five-round fight was extremely competitive. In the absence of an immediate rematch, however, Volkanovski wishes to stay active and defend his title.
ESPN ranks Volkanovski as tied for the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world with Makhachev.
Rodriguez (15-3), of Chihuahua, Mexico, won the interim title by submitting Josh Emmett in February. That fight also took place on the UFC 284 card in Perth, Australia.
Rodriguez is 4-1 in his past five official bouts, with the only loss coming to former champion Max Holloway.