Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been shopping around for a new headliner now that Tim Means was a “Dirty” bird — according to USADA — and got himself lifted from the upcoming UFC Fight Night 83 event on FOX Sports 1, taking place on Feb. 21, 2016, inside Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
See the current fight card and line up here.
Based on a report from Combate (via MMA Fighting), the promotion has pegged Alex Oliveira to step in for a short-notice fight against Donald Cerrone, which means “Cowboy” will be fighting “Cowboy” at welterweight, assuming the Brazilian can get his visa in order by next week.
Not a fight that screams “main event,” but at least these are two fighters who like to bang.
Cerrone (28-7, 1 NC) is in a big hurry to erase the memory of last December’s loss to Rafael dos Anjos, a one-sided shellacking in the main event of UFC on FOX 17, which not only ruined his title aspirations, but also snapped an eight-fight winning streak.
Onward and upward.
After a debut loss to Gilbert Burns, Oliveira (13-3-1, 1 NC) roared back to claim three straight wins, including a submission over longtime lightweight boxer K.J. Noons, as well as a knockout victory over the venerable Piotr Hallman last November.
The Brazilian has 11 finishes in 13 wins.
Nothing is official at this time; however, an announcement is expected once Oliveira gets his paperwork in order.
Stay tuned.