Cowboy is fighting Robbie Lawler in New York City

When Robbie Lawler lost his title to Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 on July 30, 2016, he said he wanted to fight again as soon as possible. He said it repeatedly, apparently.

https://twitter.com/DamonMartin/status/769672669222481920

Former lightweight Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, has looked the best of his career at welterweight, and he knew a guy.

https://twitter.com/Cowboycerrone/status/769694242557992960

Now UFC president Dana White told CBS Cleveland radio host Anthony Lima that the bout has been signed, for the main card of UFC 205, when the league makes a triumphant return to New York.

https://twitter.com/SportsBoyTony/status/773549127070351360

Neither fighter tends to start out going all out. So the first round is not likely to be a shocker. Expect both to attack hard, but not wildly – each will be trying to learn. Once they have the information they need, expect an incredible, incredible fight. One worth waiting 21 years, one month, and four days for.

The return of the UFC to New York has been long and for the last decade, relentless, costing millions.

For nine years UFC representatives went to New York’s capitol Albany to try to get mixed martial arts legalized and regulated. Five times it passed the Senate, but each time Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver refused to bring it to a vote. Then Silver resigned as Speaker, following his arrest on corruption charges; the witch has since been convicted and sent to jail.

New Assembly Speaker, Carl Heastie, is a supporter of the MMA, but in 2015, the bill again passed the Senate, in multiple versions, but did not get sufficient support in the Assembly.

Finally in 2016 the sport became regulated, and the league is planning a massive show to celebrate on November 12, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. UFC 205 will be the first UFC in New York state since UFC 7, on September 8, 1995, at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo.

The card has not been officially announced, but in addition to Cowboy vs. Lawler, it is expected to include:
•A lightweight fight between Al Iaquinta and former UFC welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves
•A middleweight fight between Tim Kennedy and former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, in his divisional debut
•A middleweight fighter between former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and top contender Yoel Romero.