Many had been hoping that with Rafael Dos Anjos returning to training camp this week, thus putting him right on schedule to make UFC 200, we may be treated to another title fight to tip UFC 200 over the edge, but today we have learned that is not the case.
However, Dos Anjos' will be defending his belt that weekend as the UFC confimed that he will take on Eddie Alvarez at UFC Fight Night Vegas on Thurday, July 7th, just two days before UFC 200.
BREAKING: UFC 155lbs title is on the line ONLY on #UFCFIGHTPASS, Thursday, July 7 @RdosAnjosMMA vs @Ealvarezfight! pic.twitter.com/BwxI5T2vat
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) April 15, 2016
Similar to when Frankie Edgar took on (and KO'd) Chad Mendes at a UFC Fight Night the night before UFC 194, it serves to spread the action out over the weekend and reward UFC Fight Pass subscribers (the event will likely be shown on BT Sport here too) with a title fight.
It's crazy to think that Rafael Dos Anjos has gone from the headline money fight against Conor McGregor to headlining a Fight Pass card on a weeknight, but that's how is is.
What this means for UFC 200, with a "big announcement" supposedly still to come, is that there is a very real possibility that Robbie Lawler could be lined up for a spot on that card. There has been very little word on Lawler since his epic battle with Carlos Condit, and that could prove to be the last big surprise to magnify the hype on UFC 200.
As for Eddie Alvarez, this announcement makes for an extremely interesting title fight coming off the back of his decision victory over Anthony Pettis. As the only fighter in the lightweight title shake-up without a fight scheduled it seemed inevitable that he would get his shot when Dos Anjos returned from injury, and it's great news for the former Bellator fighter.
Watch this space, that weekend could be about to get even more exciting.
