At least one bout in jeopardy at UFC 282 has been saved, keeping Santiago Ponzinibbio on the card.
Following the withdrawal of Robbie Lawler from the event, Ponzinibbio will instead face Alex Morono (22-7, 1NC) as part of the December 12, 2022 Pay-Per-View card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed the booking to Cageside Press following an initial report by John Morgan of The Underground. Morono is taking the bout on just five days’ notice, and is not expected to take part in Wednesday’s UFC 282 media day.
The fight has also been shifted to a 180 pound catchweight affair, to accommodate Morono and then minimal time he’ll have to cut weight.
Morono last competed in July at UFC 277, picking up a win over Matthew Semelsberger. The unanimous decision victory extended Morono’s win streak to four; in that span he’s earned wins against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, David Zawada, and Mickey Gall.
Ponzinibbio (28-6) comes in off a split decision loss to Michel “Demolidor” Pereira in his last outing, leaving him on a two-fight skid and 1-3 in his last four fights.
UFC 282 goes down this Saturday, December 12, 2022 featuring Jan Blachowicz versus Magomed Ankalaev headlining, with the vacant UFC light heavyweight title up for grabs. The following match-ups have been reported for the event, which has taken a number of hits in recent weeks, including the loss of it’s originally scheduled main event:
- Jan Błachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev – for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship
- Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon
- Alex Morono vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
- Darren Till vs. Dricus du Plessis
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Ilia Topuria
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Chris Daukaus
- Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Jay Perrin
- Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
- Chris Curtis vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Billy Quarantillo vs. Alexander Hernandez
- T.J. Brown vs. Erik Silva
- Vinicius Salvador vs. Daniel da Silva
- Cameron Saaiman vs. Steven Koslow
