UFC cuts Yair Rodriguez for refusing Magomedsharipov fight

The UFC has cut ties with featherweight fighter Yair Rodriguez after he refused a fight with Zabit Magomedsharipov that had been tabbed for UFC 227 in August.

UFC president Dana White grew tired of Rodriguez's act. The No. 11-ranked featherweight hasn't fought in almost a calendar year. His last bout was a loss to Frankie Edgar - his first defeat in the UFC - via TKO on May 13, 2017.

"The guy's off a year, rejects a fight with (Ricardo) Lamas and then doesn't want to fight a guy below him in the rankings? He can go somewhere else. We have no use for him," White said to Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times.

Rodriguez had been on an eight-fight win streak across two promotions before his TKO loss to Edgar via doctor's stoppage.