UFC 219: Dominick Cruz vs Jimmie Rivera set for Dec. 30 in Las Vegas

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is making some big moves in the stacked 135-pound division, booking former division champion Dominick Cruz against top bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera.

They’ll do the deed at the upcoming UFC 219 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Sat., Dec. 30, 2017 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, a year-end card that also features prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The oft-injured Cruz (22-2) suffered his first defeat inside the Octagon when Cody Garbrandt stripped him of the 135-pound strap at UFC 207. The loss to “No Love” also snapped a 13-fight win streak dating back to 2008.

Onward and upward.

Rivera (21-1) joined UFC in summer 2015 after making a mockery of the regional scene. Currently ranked No. 3, “El Terrible” has five straight wins inside the Octagon with signature wins over Urijah Faber and Thomas Almeida, among others.

Time to separate the contender from the pretender.

Also announced for the upcoming UFC 219 fight card is a women’s strawweight showdown pitting former champion Carla Esparza opposite undefeated 115-pound bruiser Cynthia Calvillo.

Stay tuned for more UFC 219 fight card announcements in the coming days.