A welterweight pairing three years within the making would possibly lastly happen in December.
Per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has agreed to struggle Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 282.
After being paired up in opposition to the Argentinian for a bout again in December 2019, Lawler noticed the unique matchup fall by way of when a staph an infection pressured Santiago to withdraw from the struggle. On the event, the promotion determined to take away Robbie from the UFC 245 card as effectively, not giving the previous champion a alternative opponent.
Most not too long ago, Lawler (29-15-1 NC) obtained TKO’d by Bryan Barberena at UFC 276 final month. Earlier than that, the 40-year-old had scored the one win of his profession in his previous six outings, when he TKO’d Nick Diaz, in September 2021. That victory made Robbie snap a four-fight shedding skid, with defeats to Rafael dos Anjos, Ben Askren, Colby Covington and Neil Magny.
Additionally in dire want of a win, Ponzinibbio (28-6) will look to snap a two-fight shedding skid, with cut up choice losses to Geoff Neal and Michel Pereira. The 35-year-old’s final win occurred simply final yr, when he scored a unanimous choice over prospect Miguel Baeza.
Now, Lawler is scheduled to face Ponzinibbio at UFC 282, on December 10, in Las Vegas, Nevada. A lightweight heavyweight title struggle between champion Jiri Prochazka and former title-holder Glover Teixeira is predicted to even be on the cardboard.
