Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has his sights on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight title in 2017. But before that happens, he has a date in the octagon in his hometown of Denver.
When UFC announced a live event was coming back to Colorado, Cerrone was first in line to ask for a fight.
Just days after defeating Matt Brown at UFC 206 on Dec. 10, Cerrone issued an open challenge on Twitter. Fighting in Denver wasn’t just a priority, he said, it was the only priority.
“I want to fight in Denver. Just find me somebody,” he said Thursday at LowDown Brewery + Kitchen.
That somebody will be No. 12-ranked welterweight Jorge Masvidal (33-11). No. 5 Cerrone (32-7-1) will enter the octagon against Masvidal at the Pepsi Center on Jan. 28.
Cerrone, 33, was on the UFC 150 card when the MMA promotion was last in Denver, in 2012. He defeated Melvin Guilliard via knockout. While he enjoyed fighting at home, he said he wasn’t mature enough to fully take in the experience. He plans to absorb the journey this time around.
“I get to go on all the radio stations I’ve listened to as a kid and be the guest on there and talk about fighting in my hometown. How (expletive) cool is that?” he said. “The walkout is going to be different. The fight week is going to be different. It’s all going to be just sucking it all in and enjoying it. Taking it for a ride.”
Last year brought plenty of changes for Cerrone. After losing only 66 seconds into his UFC lightweight title shot in December 2015 against then-champion Rafael dos Anjos — his only blemish in his last 13 fights — Cerrone moved up to the welterweight division.
“The last title fight, it was bad,” Cerrone said. “It was a hard, hard cut. I just don’t like that feeling. I feel good now. I eat whatever the hell I want.”
Since his debut at 170 last February, he has gone 4-0 with three knockouts and a submission.
“Look at me, I’m eating cheese and bread,” he said as he took a bite out of an appetizer. “I feel so much better at 170, man.”
Cerrone already has his future mapped out in his mind. He wants a shot at the UFC welterweight title — a belt held by Tyron Woodley.
And he wants it soon.
“I want to fight in March,” Cerrone said. “And so if Woodley’s ready, cool. Or if not, the No. 1 contender — a fight with Demian Maia or Robbie Lawler.”
If it seems like a quick turnaround, it’s because it is. Resting is not Cerrone’s forte. Since joining the UFC in 2011, he has had 23 fights. The record is 27 — shared by Michael Bisping, Frank Mir and Tito Ortiz. Cerrone has won 19 of his 23 fights — ranking second in UFC history, behind middleweight champion Bisping (20).
And if a blockbuster fight for Cerrone falls through?
“I’ll probably just keep on fighting, keep on fighting,” he said. “(UFC president) Dana (White) hates it, but I love it. … I’m not making any money when I’m sitting. I understand the title’s a lot more money, but at the end of the day I (expletive) love fighting, man.”
For now, Cerrone is focused on his next fight. During an interview on “The MMA Hour,” Masvidal said he was “going to bust (Cerrone) right in the … mouth. He’s going to find out real quick itap a fight.”
Cerrone’s response: “I’m sure he’s coming to rip my head off. I don’t have anything bad to say about the guy. I don’t know that much about him to talk poorly about him. Let’s go fight.”
