Report: Cerrone to fight Gastelum at UFC 205 in New York
Donald Cerrone will be taking a bite out of the Big Apple after all.
Just days after receiving the bad news that Robbie Lawler would be withdrawing from their discussed bout at UFC 205 on Nov. 12 in New York, "Cowboy" is getting a new opponent in top-5 welterweight Kelvin Gastelum, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.
These plans presumably remove Gastelum from a previously scheduled bout with Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night 98 on Nov. 5 in Mexico City, Mexico. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani tweeted that Masvidal's team is now pursuing a fight with former UFC champion Johny Hendricks.
The news also means that Cerrone will be sticking around at welterweight for at least one more match. A longtime lightweight contender, Cerrone has gone undefeated in three fights at 170 pounds since changing divisions this past February.
Gastelum is coming off the biggest win of his career having topped Hendricks at UFC 200 in July via unanimous decision. "The Ultimate Fighter 17" winner has alternated between wins and losses in his last five fights, and a win over Cerrone would give him his first winning streak since November 2014.
UFC 205 will take place at Madison Square Garden. It is the promotion's first event in New York after the sport of MMA was legalized in the state this past April.
The UFC is yet to officially announce any bouts for the card.