Cerrone Replaces Injured Makdessi, Faces Taylor at UFC Live 5

Stepping in to fill Makdessi’s spot on the UFC Live 5 card will be three-time World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight title challenger Donald Cerrone (Pictured). According to a post on UFC.com, Cerrone and Taylor have verbally agreed to meet at the event, which takes place at Milwaukee’s Bradley Center.

Cerrone, 28, is only weeks removed from a lopsided June 11 decision win over Vagner Rocha at UFC 131. The Colorado-born “Cowboy” has won four straight and is 2-0 since transitioning to the Octagon in February, having also submitted Brit Paul Kelly at UFC 126. During his time in WEC, Cerrone earned “Fight of the Night” honors five times.

Himself a three-time recipient of the UFC’s “Fight of the Night” bonus, Taylor made the drop to 155 pounds in October after a 3-4 run in the welterweight division. Although the Englishman was outpointed by Sam Stout in his lightweight debut, Taylor rebounded in February with a vicious second-round knockout of Gabe Ruediger.