No Robbie Lawler? No problem!
Top welterweight contender Kelvin Gastelum has been booked to square off against Donald Cerrone at the much-anticipated UFC 205 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Nov. 12, 2016, in what will mark the promotion’s first event in New York, live from Madison Square Garden.
Just confirmed with @danawhite, Cowboy Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum agreed for UFC 205 on Nov. 12 at MSG.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 14, 2016
Their 170-pound scrap came to be after Lawler, the ex-division kingpin, bowed out of his scheduled fight against “Cowboy,” citing timing issues.
That left the promotion no other choice but to look elsewhere, even if it meant having to scrap another fight, as Gastelum was previously set to face Jorge Masvidal at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): “Latin America 3” Finale in Mexico City on Nov. 5.
No word yet on who will takes Kelvin’s place.
While it may not be the “bangfest” fans were hoping for between two of the most exciting standup specialists in the sport today, Gastelum will be more than game, recently taking out another knockout artist in the form of Johny Hendricks at UFC 200.
As for Cerrone, he will look to make it four straight wins in the welterweight division, previously taking out Rick Story, Alex Oliveira, and Patrick Cote, earning “Performance of the Night” honors in each contest.
Anyone care to offer up some early predictions?