Alex Oliveira (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Alex Oliveira will be the underdog when he faces Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC Fight Night 83 tonight, but Daniel Cormier has outlined how the fighter can defeat his fellow “Cowboy”.

Unlike Cerrone, Oliveira (13-3-1) is still relatively new to the UFC, but since joining the promotion last year the Brazilian has gone 3-1. Most recently, the Brazilian knocked out Piotr Hallmann.

In the most recent edition of “UFC Tonight“, Cormier offered this take, on what Oliveira needs to do against the dangerous Cerrone (quote via FOX Sports 1 press release):

“Alex is a guy who loves to fight. He’s a very good fighter. He doesn’t have the wrestling background, but he’s very powerful and is going to try to get in your face and land combinations. He has a chance to make a statement with this fight. Donald has to start a little faster and can’t let Oliveira set the pace. He has to impose his will on Oliveira. He gets in trouble when he’s being pursued.”

“This is a big step up for him. Key number one is he has to use range. He’s a big guy and he has to keep Cerrone on the outside. Key two is to use footwork. He can’t be where Cerrone thinks he is and needs to use good head movement to get in and out of the way. Lastly, he’s got to land the takedowns. He doesn’t have the background of the wrestler, but he should get it to the ground where he has the best opportunity to get the job done.”

Cerrone, meanwhile, is coming off a stoppage loss to lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in December.

UFC FN 83 will be hosted by Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center.