Eddie Alvarez (pictured) became the hottest free agent in MMA Tuesday morning. Fast forward just five hours and the now-former Bellator lightweight champion has not only signed an exclusive contract to join the UFC, but has already been issued his first assignment.
Alvarez makes his long-awaited big league debut against Donald Cerrone at UFC 178.
Terms of Alvarez’s deal were not disclosed.
The September 27 event takes place inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 155-pound shootout will co-headline the pay-per-view broadcast.
Cerrone was initially slated to meet Bobby Green in the event, but Green will be bumped to later card with Alvarez’s addition.
Cerrone has once again emerged as one of the hottest lightweights in the game. He’s finished off all four of his last opponents in devastating fashion, all since this past November. “Cowboy” most recently posted a highlight reel head kick KO on Jim Miller in July.
Alvarez will be riding a three-fight winning streak into the octagon. He has lost just once in his last 11 outings.
The 30-year-old avenged that defeat by posting a split decision over Michael Chandler to reclaim his Bellator throne the last time he took center stage.
Here is the show’s revised roster:
Kevin Lee vs. Jon Tuck
Brian Ebersole vs. John Howard
Jorge Masvidal vs. James Krause
Patrick Cote vs. Stephen Thompson
Cat Zingano vs. Amanda Nunes
Jorge Masvidal vs. James Krause
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier
Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero
Dominick Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Donald Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez
Chris Cariaso vs. Demetrious Johnson (UFC flyweight champion champion)
Loading ...