The UFC announced on Thursday that the former UFC and WEC bantamweight champion is set to meet Brazilian brawler John Lineker at the UFC 233 pay-per-view card in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 26. Combate first reported the match-up as being in the works.
Cruz (22-2) hasn’t fought since losing the 135-pound belt via unanimous decision to Cody Garbrandt on Dec. 30, 2016. “The Dominator” was scheduled to make a comeback a year later, but was removed from a fight with Jimmie Rivera after suffering an arm fracture.
Lineker (31-8) agreed to replace Cruz against Rivera, but was later pulled from UFC 219 with a tooth infection.