Two huge fights have been added to this summer’s UFC 213 card as #2 Robbie Lawler faces #8 Donald Cerrone and #1 Fabricio Werdum faces #3 Alistair Overeem. Fightful had previously reported both of these fights over a month ago, but the UFC recently made the announcements themselves.
Lawler (27-11-0-1NC) is competing for the first time since losing the UFC Welterweight Title to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201. Lawler first won the welterweight title when he defeated Johny Hendricks in their rematch by decision at UFC 181 and would defend it twice before losing it to Woodley at the aforementioned UFC 201 event. Lawler will also be competing in a non-main event fight for the first time in over three years, with that last non-main event fight being a victory over Jake Ellenberger at UFC 173.
Cerrone (32-8-0-1NC) has won four of five fights since moving to the welterweight division from the lightweight division, those four wins have come over Alex Oliveira, Patrick Cote, Rick Story and Matt Brown. Cerrone has previously challenged for the UFC Lightweight Title, losing to then champion Rafael Dos Anjos by TKO at UFC On Fox 17. Cerrone hasn’t seen one of his fights go the distance in over two years, the last fight of his to go to the scorecards was at UFC Fight Night 59 in January 2015.
Werdum (21-6-1) has won seven of his last eight under the UFC banner, with notable wins coming over Roy Nelson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Travis Browne, Mark Hunt and Cain Velasquez. Werdum is also a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, defeating Cain Velasquez by submission at UFC 188 to win the championship. Werdum defeated Overeem in their first battle over a decade ago at PRIDE Total Elimination 2006, the win came by submission via kimura.
Overeem (42-15-0-1NC) has won five of his last six fights in the UFC, with two of those wins coming over former UFC Heavyweight Champions in Andrei Arlovski and Junior Dos Santos. Overeem has previously challenged for the UFC Heavyweight Title, losing to current champion Stipe Miocic by knockout at UFC 203. Overeem defeated Werdum in their second meeting at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, the win came by way of unanimous decision, that fight was a part of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
UFC 213 takes place on Saturday, July 8 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with a main event also to be announced. Fightful will be providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
