Donald Cerrone vs Alex Oliveira.

With the sensationalism of Bellator 149 dominating the MMA airwaves this week it’s pretty easy to forget that there’s a UFC event this weekend. While that fact in itself is a fairly intriguing turn of events, I’m here to discuss an even more interesting point of interest. The main event of UFC Fight Night 83 will feature the quick return of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone against the up and coming Brazilian Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. Where Cerrone was meant to meet Tim Means in the main event slot he gets an equally intriguing challenge in a man who shares his nickname and propensity for bull riding. Coming off of a disappointed title bid against UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, Cerrone is looking for an impressive comeback victory this weekend. Cerrone’s Achilles heel, starting out too slow and relaxed, cost him big against the champ. Dos Anjos came out of the gate with surprising aggression and hurt Cerrone to the body before eventually securing a TKO victory. Cerrone is still a dangerous fighter with the potential to become a champion. The problem lies in his focus. Cerrone is a man who needs to stay busy in order to remain sharp in fights as evidenced by his quick return. Cerrone’s striking is clean and crisp once he gets going. He has powerful knees and adequate punching even from distance. His leg kicking game is also on point, chopping down his opponents with inside and outside attacks. Oliveira however poses his own threats however. He’s an aggressive and wild puncher, yet still manages to blend a decent jiujitsu game into the mix. Cerrone has a propensity to leave his head on the centerline and is Oliveira is aggressive enough he may be able to land a big shot and take Cerrone out early. The unfortunate thing for Oliveira is that it may be his only chance. Many people have been counting Cerrone out due to the results of his last fight, but look for him to rebound in emphatic fashion. Donald Cerrone defeats Alex Oliveira by submission in round one. Who do you think will be victorious at UFC Fight Night 83? Let us know on the comments and forums. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron MMA on Facebook and Twitter. Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Follow him on Twitter to keep up with his exploits.