Morning Report: Donald Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez in the works for UFC 178, according to report

Could Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez be UFC bound? According to Sherdog.com, a bout between Alvarez and Donald Cerrone is being targeted for UFC 178 Sept. 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sources close to the bout who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the matchup had not yet been finalized confirmed the news to Sherdog.com. The bout is contingent on the UFC acquiring Alvarez's services from Bellator. Negotiations are ongoing because Alvarez currently remains under Bellator contract at the time of this writing.

Bleacher Report's Jeremy Botter elaborated Wednesday evening that the bout could soon be a done deal.

@marc_raimondi @RyanMcKinnell not 100% but looks like it will be soon.

— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) July 31, 2014

9-1 since joining Bellator in 2009, Alvarez reached a settlement with the promotion last August after a contract dispute kept him shelved from October 2012 to November 2013. Alvarez hasn't been shy about his aspirations to fight in the UFC, describing the revised contract he signed with Bellator to be 'fair enough.' Alvarez abruptly cancelled an Asian seminar tour earlier in July to meet with new Bellator CEO Scott Coker for what was referred to as 'an emergency meeting.'

Cerrone was most recently booked to face No. 3 lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 178, but the 22-0 Dagestani tore his meniscus just 20 minutes after the bout agreements had been signed.

Headlined by UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, UFC 178 also features rising featherweights Connor McGregor and Dustin Poirier as well as the return of former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz against Takeya Mizugaki.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Like a box of chocolates. Nick Diaz referenced Forrest Gump, dropped an 'Is normal' and probably made a media member regret asking if he was 'excited' about fighting the GOAT during Wednesday's conference call. 'Would you enjoy fighting Anderson Silva?' (Full audio here)

'These guys are who they are.' Chuck Mindenhall tries to make sense of why we're all dying to see two guys coming off back-to-back losses and layoffs fight each other.

Frail. Vitor Belfort didn't appreciate Luke Rockhold's comments about his body holding up. 'That playboy is still in shock from the kick. He's in shock. People are in shock. That's the word. Lions don't apologize for being lions. I don't. It is what it is.'

The Dragon. Lyoto Machida wants to rebound from his unsuccessful UFC middleweight title shot against Luke Rockhold. "I respect him a lot. I don't dislike him, we get along well, but it's a fight that makes sense for both of us and for the fans."

ADCC. After their 2010 bout, Matt Hughes will face Renzo Gracie in a superfight at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship's scheduled for September 2015 in Manaus, Brazil.

MEDIA STEW

Free fight: Anderson Silvs. vs. Chris Leben.

Invicta FC 8 promo.

Quinton Jackson thought Bellator paid for his knee surgeries, but found out the cost was deducted from his fight purse.

John Hackleman recaps UFC on FOX 12 and rants on fighters failing drug tests.

Joe Riggs' accident gets animated.

Fighters try to break down the Justin Bieber vs. Orlando Bloom slap fight.

Long watches.

Press Row with Jordan Breen and The Fight Network's John Pollock.

...

TWEETS

#wolftickets.

Anthony Pettis told me we should sell the fight. Well how about this @showtimepettis I'm going to whoop your ass on Dec.6 and take the @ufc belt back to California where it belongs. #SkrapPack #teamMelendez #elniño #graciefighter #ajj #notsellingshit #truth #wolftickets #mybelt

@GilbertMelendez u won't make it out the 1st round!!! Your not even the number 1 contender Henderson is.

— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) July 31, 2014

Ha! Faking butt fighters trying to 'sell' fights...#UFC #TheOnceAndFutureKing #MMA https://t.co/v4b9DKv9If pic.twitter.com/t4Ci7G2XWr

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) July 31, 2014

Eh?

Can't wait to announce the next fight fans are gonna love this one

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) July 31, 2014

Thank you @lorenzofertitta & @danawhite !!

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) July 30, 2014

Sounds good.

I will be training with @LiborioATT at the @AmericanTopTeam gym for the ADCC 2015. Team #libo-hughes

— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) July 30, 2014

"@LeonVegaSuarez: @matthughes9x @RenzoGracieBJJ No leg kicks this time;) #ADCC2015" please NO!!!!!! lol

— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) July 30, 2014

More fails.

People still failing steroid tests .. Thanks for the slap in the face when I bust my a** 3-4 times a day in the gym naturally . F U Cowards

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 30, 2014

Wow more failed drug test. This is ridiculous. Idk how I could feel "manly", by taking a PED to beat someone in the purest form of combat!!

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 31, 2014

Get well soon.

"@DiegoSanchezUFC I pray your heart gets better dan. But come on man in the mean while don't be jealous of mine! - Is it heart or ego?

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 30, 2014

For the record, my health is fine. I have two heartbeats. I am as I should be. It's how we evolve. The anomaly becomes the norm. #Wolfheart

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 30, 2014

1st sess of therapy on my hand went well,docs pleased,healing on schedule & should be good by end of Aug. Eyeing @ufc Mexico 4 my return!

— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) July 30, 2014

For the ladies.

If u can't train u got to find other stuff to do! Like building a dog yard lol elinagustafsson everibb http://t.co/tXNGNpn0WV

— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) July 30, 2014

Return of the troll face.

FELICE CUMPILE ANOS @fabriciowerdum http://t.co/YBxvdWQVVW

— mayhem (@mayhemmiller) July 30, 2014

Looks rough.

This is a scene from a movie I just did. Obviously from my supreme acting skills, dying is painful. pic.twitter.com/weUtZmIIg0

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 30, 2014

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Jul. 30 2014)

Marlon Moraes vs. Josh Hill at WSOF 13

Jan Blachowicz vs. Ilir Latifi at UFC Fight Night: Stockholm

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.