Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, one of the most active players in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, got his wish Wednesday when matchmakers said he will fight a homecoming bout in Denver next month for the UFC’s nationally televised card at the Pepsi Center.
The Colorado native will take on Miami’s Jorge Masvidal on Jan. 28 as part of the UFC on Fox card, the first major mixed martial arts promotion in Denver since 2012.
Cerrone, who fights out of Albuquerque but often trains in Denver, is on an impressive streak since moving up to the 170-pound welterweight division. He is 4-0 since, including a knockout victory over Denver’s Matt Brown on Saturday at UFC 206 in Toronto. Cerrone’s whiplash head kick to Brown’s face in the third round led the referee to stop the fight immediately with 34 seconds remaining.
He quickly shot up the welterweight rankings, moving into the UFC’s No. 5 spot among contenders behind champion Tyron Woodley. Cerrone has fought four fights in a calendar year in each of the last four years.
After his victory Saturday, , even though it gives him just seven weeks between bouts to prepare.
“If I had to hurry up and choose someone for Denver, it’s whoever they want to give me,” Cerrone said Saturday. “That doesn’t matter to me at all.”
Cerrone (32-7) when he knocked out Melvin Guillard with kicks and punches just 76 seconds into the match. He’s lost just four bouts in the more than four years since then. And he’s won 12 of his past 13 fights.
Masvidal (32-11) is coming off a TKO victory over Jake Ellenberger on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas.
The UFC also added a heavyweight bout to the Denver card: Francis Ngannou will take on Andrei Arlovski. The main event, announced last week, will pit in a bantamweight bout. Denver’s , facing Sam Alvey at middleweight.
