Eddie Alvarez to Make UFC Debut Against Donald Cerrone in UFC 178 Co-Headliner
Donald Cerrone (above) will get to tangle with Eddie Alvarez
after all. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Just a few hours after his previous employer announced his unconditional release, Eddie Alvarez already has a new gig lined up -- and it might sound just a little bit familiar.
The UFC announced on Tuesday that Alvarez will square off with Donald Cerrone in the UFC 178 co-main event on Sept. 27. Sherdog.com first reported on July 30 that Cerrone-Alvarez was in the works for that card. However, last week the promotion announced that Cerrone would face Bobby Green, not Alvarez, at UFC 178.
Advertisement
Alvarez compiled a 9-1 record during his four years with Bellator. He captured the promotion’s lightweight title for a second time in his most recent outing with a split-decision triumph over Michael Chandler at Bellator 106 this past November. The 30-year-old Blackzilians representative had major contract issues with Bellator last year, as the two parties went to court to settle a dispute that began when Alvarez’s deal expired in October 2012.
After approximately eight months, Alvarez reached a settlement and signed a new deal with the promotion, which cleared the way for his rematch with Chandler last year. The Philadelphia native was to have met Chandler for a third time at Bellator’s inaugural pay-per-view event in May but had to withdraw after suffering a concussion in training.
Cerrone, meanwhile, has posted four consecutive finishes inside the Octagon. Most recently, he dispatched Jim Miller with a second-round head kick at UFC Fight Night on July 16 in Atlantic City, N.J.
UFC 178 takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a flyweight title tilt between Demetrious Johnson and Chris Cariaso. The card also includes a featherweight showdown between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier as well as a middleweight matchup pitting Tim Kennedy against Yoel Romero.
Related Articles
