Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will send jiu-jitsu wizard Augusto Mendes into battle against Cody Garbrandt at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 83: “Cowboy vs. Cowboy” mixed martial arts (MMA) event, taking place on Sun., Feb. 21, 2016, on FOX Sports 1 from inside Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Combate brought word of the change on Tuesday.
Mendes (5-0) will be making his Octagon debut after John Lineker was forced to withdraw due to illness (more on that here). “Tanquinho” has been terrorizing the regional circuit and notched all five of his pro wins by way of knockout or submission.
This is hardly a “gimme” fight.
Garbrandt (7-0) has been equally ruthless inside the cage — to the tune of six finishes — after honing his craft at Team Alpha Male. “No Love” is already two fights into his UFC career and was last seen taking a unanimous decision from Enrique Briones last July.
Fun fight.
UFC Fight Night 83 will see longtime lightweight contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone bump up to the welterweight division to throw hands with venerable Brazilian “Cowboy” Alex Oliveira. Elsewhere on the FOX Sports 1 fight card, rough-and-tumble middleweight Derek Brunson collides with submission-savvy veteran Roan Carneiro.
For the updated UFC Fight Night 83 fight card click here.