A sizzling match-up between top-ranked lightweights Donald Cerrone and Bobby Green has been booked as the new co-main event of UFC 178.
UFC officials announced the bout on Thursday.
Cerrone (24-6, 1 NC), a fan-favorite who campaigned hard for a spot on the card following the recent injury to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, now rides a four-fight hot streak into the contest, having finished Evan Dunham, Adriano Martins, Edson Barboza, and Jim Miller in succession. All four of Cerrone’s wins arrived inside two rounds, and all four earned him post-fight bonuses.
Green (23-5), meanwhile, enters the contest fresh off the biggest win of his career. The 27-year-old captured a split decision over former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson in July, putting an exclamation point on his current eight-fight win streak.
@ufc @Cowboycerrone I’m so excited I finally get to get my hands on Donny I’ve been waiting for this for a year just want u to know I’m
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) August 15, 2014
@ufc @Cowboycerrone Going to make your life a living hell I’m going to beat your ass every round if u thought Diaz or pettis worked u boy u
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) August 15, 2014
@ufc @Cowboycerrone Got another thing coming u bit off more than u can chew your striking is last year and I’m going to expose it #KingArmy
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) August 15, 2014
In light of the switch, Green’s original opponent, Jorge Masvidal, will instead challenge James Krause.
UFC 178 takes place September 27, 2014 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. An updated UFC 178 fight card can be seen below.
- Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso
- Donald Cerrone vs. Bobby Green
- Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier
- Dominick Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki
- Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero
- Cat Zingano vs. Amanda Nunes
- Jorge Masvidal vs. James Krause
- Brian Ebersole vs. John Howard
- Stephen Thompson vs. Patrick Cote
- Kevin Lee vs. Jon Tuck
- Manny Gamburyan vs. Cody Gibson