Jimmie Rivera gets new opponent for UFC 219 in Las Vegas

John Lineker, top, fights TJ Dillashaw during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

TJ Dillashaw, left, lands a flying knee against John Lineker during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

John Lineker, left, and TJ Dillashaw grapple during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

John Lineker, right, works a submission against TJ Dillashaw during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

TJ Dillashaw, left, lands a strike against John Lineker during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

TJ Dillashaw, top, lands a strike against John Lineker during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

TJ Dillashaw, top, works a submission against John Lineker during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

TJ Dillashaw, top, works a submission against John Lineker during their bantamweight fight at UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

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By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

November 21, 2017 - 1:03 pm

Updated November 21, 2017 - 1:27 pm

Bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera finally has a new opponent for UFC 219 on Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena.

John Lineker has agreed to step in for injured former champ Dominick Cruz to face Rivera, UFC officials confirmed to the Review-Journal on Tuesday.

Cruz pulled out of the fight because of a broken arm he sustained this month.

Rivera has won 20 straight fights, including five since signing with the UFC.

Lineker has won five of six since moving back up to 135 pounds, with the loss against current champ T.J. Dillashaw.

UFC 219 includes a women’s featherweight title bout between champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino and former bantamweight champion Holly Holm.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-277-8028. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.

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