WITH CONOR McGREGOR topping the bill, you probably didn’t need any extra incentive to tune in for UFC Boston. But the promotion have gone and given you one anyway.
UFC president Dana White has announced on social media that fan-favourite Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone will feature in the co-main event at the TD Garden on Sunday night, 18 January — or the early hours of Monday morning for fans in Ireland.
Eddie Alvarez was due to face Benson Henderson in the penultimate bout of the night, but Alvarez withdrew from the contest yesterday. According to MMAFighting.com, the former Bellator champion has the flu.
But just 48 hours after going the distance with Myles Jury in his latest win at UFC 182 in Las Vegas this past Saturday, ‘Cowboy’ has ridden to the rescue. The 31-year-old lightweight will step in to take on Henderson for the third time, and revenge will be on his mind.
Cerrone and Henderson twice fought for lightweight championship honours during their WEC days, with Henderson emerging victorious on both occasions — via decision after a five-round classic in October 2009, and in April 2010 courtesy of a submission in the first round.
While the scheduled meeting of Henderson and Alvarez had been eagerly anticipated, you’re unlikely to find many UFC fans who’ll be disappointed with Cerrone’s addition to the card. A regular fight night bonus winner, the UFC’s third-ranked lightweight has taken 19 of his 26 career wins inside the distance.
Despite dominating the previously-undefeated Myles Jury last weekend, Cerrone admitted afterwards to being disappointed with his performance and expressed his desire to return to action as soon as possible.
Going up against a former UFC and WEC champion on less than two weeks’ notice might not sound like most fighters’ idea of a wise choice, but the carefree Cerrone has jumped at the opportunity.
And if the risk pays dividends, Cerrone may well find himself overtaking Khabib Nurmagomedov in the rankings and in line to face the winner of the 14 March lightweight bout between Rafael dos Anjos and defending champion Anthony Pettis.
Headlined by the featherweight clash of Conor McGregor and Dennis Siver, and also featuring Ireland’s Norman Parke, Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan, UFC Fight Night 59 takes place on Sunday, 18 January, at the TD Garden in Boston.
Main Card
Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver
Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson
Uriah Hall vs. Louis Taylor
Norman Parke vs. Gleison Tibau
Preliminary Card
Cathal Pendred vs. Sean Spencer
John Howard vs. Lorenz Larkin
Zhang Lipeng vs. Chris Wade
Patrick Holohan vs. Shane Howell
Johnny Case vs. Frankie Perez
Charles Rosa vs. Sean Soriano
Sean O’Connell vs. Matt Van Buren
Tateki Matsuda vs. Joby Sanchez
