With UFC 196 in the books, fight fans get a two week break before any major MMA fight card. Next up for the promotion is UFC Fight Night 83 on February 21, featuring the welterweight debut of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone - 28-7, 5 KOs, 15 SUBs - in a matchup against Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira - 13-3, 9 KOs, 2 SUBs. For a free fight card on FOX Sports 1, there’s a lot to look forward to. Let’s preview into the upcoming action.
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Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira odds coming soon!
Cody Garbrandt +140 vs. John Lineker -160
MATCHUP SWITCH
Originally, Cerrone was scheduled to face Tim Means, an all-action fighter and a true welterweight. But “Dirty Bird” was flagged for a potential USADA drug-testing violation, forcing him out of the contest. While Cerrone will still make his welterweight debut, he’ll be fighting a former welterweight-turned-lightweight, Brazilian Alex Oliveira.
COWBOY 2.0
In his last fight, Cerrone got torched in his only career title bid by champion Rafael dos Anjos. Being the second career loss to the Brazilian champion, Cowboy finds himself in no man’s land: an elite lightweight fighter with little chance of challenging for the belt as long as it’s in RDA’s hands.
But that loss might have triggered a much more exciting fate for Cerrone. He’s one of the bigger UFC stars and one of the few true embodiments of the “anyone, any time” attitude we love to see in fighters. By moving up to welterweight, Cerrone is vastly expanding his career horizons. After fighting as a lightweight for nearly 10 years in the WEC and UFC, there isn’t really anybody left in the division that Cerrone hasn’t faced.
But Cowboy vs. Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald, or even a guy like Gunnar Nelson? I’m definitely intrigued. Plus, Cerrone can keep taking fights at lightweight and stay as busy as he wants.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
Undefeated bantamweight Cody Garbrandt - 7-0, 6 KOs - has the good looks and knockout power to become a star. If he can beat John Lineker, a solid veteran, Garbrandt will be poised to break out in 2016, much like fellow blue chip prospect Thomas Almeida did last year. The 135-pound class could sure use some young starpower.
Welterweight Brandon Thatch - 11-3, 8 KOs, 3 SUBs - was one of those guys that coaches pegged as a future top-10 fighter. We’re still waiting for the former Muay Thai champ to make good on his potential. Thatch is an exciting striker for sure, but he has had trouble against upper class opponents. He’s facing Siyar Bahadurazada - who comes in on a two-fight skid - next, and if Thatch can’t pull out a victory he could fade into obscurity.
Jackson’s MMA product Derek Brunson appears to have turned a corner in his career, piling up three straight wins. He’ll look to continue his rise against Roan Carneiro, who’s won six in a row, including his UFC debut in February 2015.
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Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available now. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform.UFC Fight Night 83 takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2016 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The card will be televised on FOX Sports 1.
