Breaking: Welterweight contender agrees to replace Robbie Lawler at upcoming UFC 282 pay-per-view on just five days' notice 

Surging UFC welterweight Alex Morono will replace Robbie Lawler on five days' notice for a UFC 282 clash against Santiago Ponzinibbio. The matchup was first reported by David Van Auken and was later confirmed by MMA Junkie from various sources with insider information.

Morono agreed to take on Ponzinibbio at a catchweight of 180 pounds on the UFC 282 main card after Robbie Lawler withdrew five days before the scheduled clash, citing an undisclosed injury.

Ponzinibbio will look to bounce back from back-to-back split decision losses against Geoff Neal and Michel Pereira. 'Argentine Dagger' has gone 1-3 since having a spectacular seven-fight win streak snapped by a first-round KO loss to Li Jingliang back in January 2021.

Meanwhile, Morono is coming off an emphatic decision win over Matthew Semelsberger back in July. 'The Great White' is currently on a four-fight win streak which is the longest of his UFC career.

Meanwhile, Lawler ended a four-fight skid with a stoppage loss over a visibly washed-out Nick Diaz in September 2021. 'Ruthless' has since dropped another TKO loss to Bryan Barberena back in July.