A seemingly doomed UFC welterweight matchup is now set to take place at an upcoming pay-per-view event in Texas.
UFC 277, which takes place July 30 in Dallas, will now host the third attempt at getting Orion Cosce and Blood Diamond into the cage. The welterweights have previously been booked twice before, but both fell through. The new date was announced on social media by Iridium Sports Agency and sources with knowledge of the fight later confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie.
The first meeting was set for UFC 271, but Cosce (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was unable to compete due to an injury. This led to Matheta (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) making his UFC debut at the same event against Jeremiah Wells. The second booking was set for UFC 275 in June, however, Matheta withdrew from the fight.
“I hate pulling out, but for the 1st time I had to,” Diamond wrote on Instagram. “Focusing on rehab and being able to fight soon.”
Cosce and Diamond are now set to meet at American Airlines Arena at the end of July, as both fighters will look to overcome their debut setbacks.
Diamond was submitted in his debut against Wells in the first round. Cosce was stopped by Philip Rowe in the second round of his debut last July.
With the addition, the UFC 277 lineup includes:
- Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes
- Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France
- Derrick Lewis vs. Sergei Pavlovich
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Anthony Smith
- Rafael Alves vs. Drew Dober
- Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Michael Morales
- Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Ihor Potieria
- Don’Tale Mayes vs. Justin Tafa
- Diego Ferreira vs. Drakkar Klose
- Mariya Agapova vs. Ji Yeon Kim
- Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein
- Orion Cosce vs. Blood Diamond
