Las Vegas – It’ll be lights out in the Sunshine State when UFC® returns to Amway Center with a lightweight title bout as newly crowned champion Rafael Dos Anjos looks to defend his title for the first time when he meets No. 2 contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a highly-anticipated rematch on Saturday, Dec. 19. In the co-main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos clashes with former STRIKEFORCE® champion Alistair Overeem in a bout that could have major title implications in the wide open division. UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2 will be the second consecutive championship bout to air nationally on FOX and eighth overall.
After putting on one of the best performances of his career against Anthony Pettis at UFC 185, Dos Anjos (24-7, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) captured the 155-pound title, becoming the first Brazilian to hold the UFC lightweight championship. In addition to his impressive wins over former champion Benson Henderson and Nate Diaz, Dos Anjos also handed Cerrone his last loss back in 2013. The Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt will put his title on the line when he and his former foe meet again.
Since dropping a decision loss to the champion, Cowboy (28-6, 1NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) went on to dismantle the lightweight division by picking off top contenders in one of the most talent-rich divisions in the sport. Undefeated in his last eight appearances, Cerrone has wins over the likes of Henderson, Eddie Alvarez, Myles Jury, Edson Barboza and Jim Miller. A Muay Thai expert who holds 15 wins by submission and five by knockout, Cowboy has proven he has the heart of a champion and is now looking for the belt to solidify his place atop of the division.
To set the stage, former UFC heavyweight champion Dos Santos (17-3, fighting out of Salvador, Bahai, Brazil) makes his long-awaited return against Overeem (39-14, 1NC, fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands), the former STRIKEFORCE heavyweight champion who owns 18 wins by knockout.
Plus, UFC FIGHT NIGHT showcases local talent as Orlando’s own Josh Samman will have home field advantage when he meets Tamdan McCroy in a middleweight bout. Coconut Creek’s powerhouse gym, American Top Team, will be represented by 10th-ranked featherweight Nik Lentz, welterweight Hayder Hassan and featherweights Cole Miller and Jim Alers, while Boca Raton’s Michael Johnson, Kamaru Usman and Vicente Luque compete under the Blackzilians banner.
For a full list of bouts and the latest news, please check ufc.com.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2 go on sale Friday, October 16 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $250, $175, $125, $90, $75 and $50 (prices do not include applicable service charges and handling fees). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available at amwaycenter.com, and Chase Box Office at Amway Center. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, October 14 at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, October 15 starting at 10 a.m. ET. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: DOS ANJOS vs. COWBOY 2 will air live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Saturday, December 19, with the prelims kicking off the evening on FS1 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.