The UFC Vegas 17 card is getting some reinforcements on short notice.
Just as it lost its main event, with Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards dropping off the card, the event has gained a welterweight scrap between Anthony Pettis and Alex Morono. ESPN was first to report news of the fight.
Edwards was forced out of the event due to a positive COVID-19 test, and a battle with the illness that left him unable to train. That fight is expected to be pushed back into 2021.
In the meantime, former lightweight champ Pettis (23-10) will look to make it two wins in a row for the first time since 2014. The 33-year old former WEC champ is coming off a win over Cowboy Cerrone, after losing two straight to Nate Diaz and Carlos Diego Ferreira.
Pettis won the UFC’s 155lb title in 2013 and defended it once the following year, against Gilbet Melendez. He lost the belt in 2015 in a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Rafael dos Anjos.
“Showtime” told ESPN that he had been trying to secure a fight for some time. The bout against Cerrone came at UFC 249 back in May.
Alex Morono (18-6, 1NC) is coming off a win over Rhys McKee last month. With the UFC since 2016, Morono has compiled a 7-3 record with one No Contest during that span.
UFC Vegas 17 (UFC Fight Night 183) is set to take place December 19 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With the loss of Edwards vs. Chimaev and the addition of Pettis vs. Morono the UFC Vegas 17 card now includes the following bouts.
Geoff Neal vs. Stephen Thompson
Greg Hardy vs. Marcin Tybura
Marlon Moraes vs. Rob Font
Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann
Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera
Michel Pereira vs. Khaos Williams
Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Belal Muhammad vs. Dhiego Lima
Antonio Arroyo vs. Deron Winn
Sijara Eubanks vs. Pannie Kianzad
Drako Rodriguez vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamie Pickett
Rick Glenn vs. Carlton Minus
Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell
Anthony Pettis vs. Alex Morono
