Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will look to start it’s 2019 pay-per-view (PPV) campaign with a bang, as UFC 233 is set go down inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. While a headlining act has yet-to-be announced, the card is starting to shape up nicely.
According to a report from Globo, former UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will return after his most-recent lengthy layoff due to injury to face heavy-handed John Lineker. “The Dominator” was last seen competing at UFC 206 in December of 2016, losing his 135-pound strap to the now-former champion, Cody Garbrandt.
His return was halted after he suffered a broken arm in training, canceling his proposed fight against Jimmie Rivera which was set to UFC 219. As for Lineker, he is currently riding a two-fight win streak, with his most recent win coming against at UFC 224 earlier this year, knocking out Brian Kelleher in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Early predictions?
UFC 233 will also feature the long-awaited debut of former Bellator MMA and ONE Welterweight champion, Ben Askren, as he will face former UFC ex-champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler in “Funky’s” first fight inside the Octagon.
Also, a highly-intriguing Lightweight showdown between Paul Felder and James Vick will go down at this event after their first bout earlier this year was canceled.