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.
With Alvarez officially given his release from Bellator, the rumored bout became a reality. Green, meanwhile, is expected to receive a fight on an upcoming November card, according to the UFC.
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.
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Originally Posted by Mr. IWS
