Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. The revolving door of opponents keeps turning for
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Alex
Caceres. On Tuesday, Caceres (16-12, 1 NC) was slated to face Giga
Chikadze, but the latter withdrew from the bout for currently
undisclosed reasons.
Stepping in for Chikadze at that time was Kevin Croom,
but this too fell through. When Croom tested positive for the
coronavirus, the promotion was forced to scramble again.
First reported by
MMA Fighting on Thursday, the UFC has signed Austin
Springer (12-3) to make his UFC debut against Caceres at
UFC Fight Night 175. The two will meet at the UFC Apex in Las
Vegas on Aug. 29. Springer has since confirmed the booking on his
Instagram.
Caceres is riding a two-fight win streak with decision victories
over Chase
Hooper and Steven
Peterson over the last year. The win streak for “Bruce Leeroy”
is his longest since a pair of wins in 2016 over Masio
Fullen and Cole Miller.
Despite 22 previous trips to the Octagon, Caceres has never won
three UFC fights in a row. In his last appearance, he became the
first fighter to defeat the unbeaten Hooper, earning a 30-27 clean
sweep on
all three scorecards.
Springer will be springing into the UFC on the heels of three
consecutive wins, including a submission over Chikadze on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. When
Springer tapped Chikadze, he became the first fighter to finish the
former kickboxer from Georgia. Springer made his debut on the big
stage when he competed in Season 22 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” but
was ultimately knocked out by Chris
Gruetzemacher and eliminated from the tournament. The
Washington native sports a finish rate of 75 percent, stopping his
opponent in seven of his last eight triumphs.
UFC Fight Night 175 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on
Aug. 29, where it will be headlined by a three-round light
heavyweight battle between Anthony
Smith and Aleksandar
Rakic. Also on the card, Robbie
Lawler and Neil Magny
will collide at welterweight, while Magomed
Ankalaev runs it back with Ion
Cutelaba at light heavyweight.
