It didn’t take long for Donald Cerrone to get a fight booking.
The longtime MMA fighter has will step in on short notice to replace Bobby Green against Jim Miller in a rematch at UFC 276 on July 2. The bout is set go down at welterweight, rather than lightweight. The reason for Green’s withdrawal wasn’t disclosed.
The news was confirmed by MMA Junkie following an initial report from UFC broadcast partner ESPN.
Cerrone (36-16 MMA, 23-13 UFC) is coming off an unlucky stretch that has left him without a fight in 2022. “Cowboy” was supposed to fight in May against Joe Lauzon, but he fell ill the day of the fight and was forced to pull out. The bout was rescheduled for this past Saturday, but Lauzon’s knee locked up the day of the fight and he wasn’t able to fight.
Cerrone is looking to snap the worst skid of his career. The 39-year-old is on a six-fight winless stretch that includes five losses (four by finish) and a no contest. Cerrone’s most recent win came in May 2019 when he dominated Al Iaquinta for a unanimous decision.
Miller (34-16 MMA, 23-15 UFC) is on a two-fight wining streak with finishes over Erick Gonzalez and Nikolas Motta. The 38-year-old most recently fought in February at UFC Fight Night 201.
Cerrone and Miller first fought in July 2014 in a main event in Atlantic City, N.J. Cerrone picked up a post-fight bonus award with a knockout that stemmed from a head kick. At the time, it was Cerrone’s fourth straight win and fourth straight bonus. He won four more after that and got a lightweight title shot, but was stopped in 66 seconds by then-champion Rafael dos Anjos.
