Bad news for fans looking forward to one of the best fights this year…

Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has not competed since losing the belt at UFC 201. ‘Ruthless’ lost by one punch knockout to Tyron Woodley, who has since competed twice against Stephen Thompson.

During that time, Donald Cerrone has been typically active. ‘Cowboy’ knocked out Rick Story and Matt Brown with trademark head kicks, but lost a rough night against Jorge Masvidal on January 28.

Since then, Cerrone has taken a well deserved break, having fought the most of any active UFC fighter over the past four years.

Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Cerrone vs. Lawler Cancelled

Unfortunately the returns of Cerrone and Lawler will be delayed a little more. They were originally scheduled to collide at UFC 213 on July 8th, but that’s sadly not happening now. Check out the report, Per MMAFighting:

The planned bout between UFC welterweights Donald Cerrone and Robbie Lawler is almost certainly off UFC 213 and likely to be rescheduled for UFC 214, sources tell MMA Fighting. Cerrone has suffered an undisclosed injury that prevents him from competing on the planned July 8 date, but doesn’t preclude a relatively short turnaround.

Still a Solid Card

Certainly a big blow, but losing Cerrone vs. Lawler is not the end of the world. Featuring a highly anticipated women’s bantamweight title clash, UFC 213 still has plenty to offer. Travis ‘Mr Rousey’ Browne will fight for his contract against Aleksy Oleinik, and that’s not all.

Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem do battle in a fantastic heavyweight clash. Then, with middleweight champion Michael Bisping absent, Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker will dance for the interim strap.

Nov 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Yoel Romero (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Chris Weidman (red gloves) during UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Solder of God or Bobby Knuckles?

Current champ Michael Bisping, although unable to defend his belt, had some trash talk for WHittaker and Romero:

“That doesn’t mean they’re fighting for my title,” Bisping said tonight on “UFC Tonight” on FS1, per MMAJunkie. “Nobody’s fighting for my title right now. Let’s just make this clear: Romero and Whittaker are fighting, and one of them gets a participation award. That’s all it is.”

“I’m not necessarily sure it was the right move, or even the essential move to make. … But the UFC has to do what they have to do. I understand that,” Bisping said. “There are a lot of people in the middleweight division that are complaining, especially when I was supposed to fight GSP, that the division wasn’t moving along. Now I’ve got an injury; it’s taken longer than expected for my return.

“Yes, I think it’s a little premature. But as I said, the UFC has got to do what they’ve got to do. And in my mind this just certainly (will define) the next No. 1 contender.”

UFC 213 Fight Card

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko – for women’s bantamweight title

Yoel Romero vs. Robert Whittaker – for interim middleweight title

Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler

Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum

Jim Miller vs. Anthony Pettis

PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, 8 p.m. ET)

Travis Browne vs. Aleksei Oleinik

Brian Camozzi vs. Chad Laprise

Curtis Blaydes vs. Daniel Omielanczuk

Jordan Mein vs. Belal Muhammad

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET)

Rob Font vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos

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