It didn’t take long for released Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez to sign with the UFC. In fact, it was mere hours before the man signed on the dotted line.
After Bellator boss Scott Coker granted his release Tuesday morning, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, Dana White and Co. signed the top-10 lightweight and immediately put him on the UFC 178 card. His opponent, Donald Cerrone, is a man charging toward the title picture in a fight that will likely draw great interest.
Cerrone, a WEC and UFC workhorse, was set to face Bobby Green at this event, but Green was shifted to a later date with an opponent that has yet to be named, as noted by Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com.
Cerrone has been on a tear lately, rediscovering the fire that made him a fan favorite. He is riding a four-fight surge, which has seen finishes over Evan Dunham, Adriano Martins, Edson Barboza and Jim Miller.
Alvarez has not been nearly as active, as he went through a public legal dispute with Bellator and former boss Bjorn Rebney. However, in his most recent outing, he won the Bellator lightweight championship in a rematch with Michael Chandler.
The matchup itself is fantastic. Cerrone is a kickboxer with excellent submission grappling, while Alvarez is a boxer with good wrestling ability. It should make for a fan-pleasing affair.
Not only is the matchup great, but it boosts a main card that lost great interest in the aftermath of the Jon Jones-Daniel Cormier postponement. Fans have been waiting for Alvarez to come to the UFC, and Cerrone is a draw in his own right.
Stay tuned with Bleacher Report for more information as it becomes available.
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