Cerrone steps in for Makdessi, meets Taylor this August
Former WEC lightweight top contender Donald Cerrone has no plans to wait around before getting back in the cage following his unanimous decision victory over Vagner Rocha in his second UFC fight, which took place earlier this month.
On Monday, UFC officials announced that “Cowboy” would be stepping back inside the octagon as a replacement for John Makdessi at “UFC on Versus 5” against Paul Taylor.
Makdessi, an undefeated lightweight, was forced out of the bout due to injury, leaving Taylor without an opponent. Now, the British fighter has the opportunity to compete at the event as planned, as he looks to build off his devastating knockout victory over Gabe Ruediger this past February.
In his way, however, is Cerrone, who has won four straight and is arguably in the best form of his entire career. Prior to his aforementioned victory over Rocha, the fan favorite defeated Paul Kelly in his UFC debut, while defeating Chris Horodecki and Jamie Varner in his final two bouts in the WEC.
The two lightweights will meet on the undercard of “UFC on Versus 5,” though it remains a possibility that the bout will be streamed on Facebook, given the promotion’s recent tendencies to air preliminary bouts in that matter. The card features a main event between Chris Lytle and Dan Hardy, which will broadcast live on Versus on August 14.
