Cowboy Cerrone on his fight against Jorge Masvidal, Conor McGregor and WWE
The UFC officially announced Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s homecoming fight in Denver against Jorge Masvidal for Jan. 28, but the knockout specialist was too busy to schedule a press conference.
Cerrone already had plans, spending the day shopping with his wife.
“I just bought her a new 20-gauge shotgun,” said the 33-year-old Cerrone (32–7–1), who has knocked out his past three opponents, including Matt Brown this past Saturday at UFC 206. “We picking them out together. I picked me up a new 22, 215 and 17 [gauge], which is good for shooting coyotes.”
Cerrone enters the Octagon with a different kind of firepower, and he plans on using his striking and kickboxing to knock out Masvidal on Saturday, Jan. 28 during the UFC on Fox card.
“Masvidal’s the only crazy lunatic that will take the fight with me,” said Cerrone. “You know he’s crazy if he’s taking a fight with me in only five weeks, but I’m better than Masvidal, top to bottom.
“Whether it goes to the ground, wrestling, striking, it doesn’t matter where the fight goes. Even if it comes down to cardio, I’ll have him beat. That Denver air is a whole different thing, so when he tries to breath at sea level, he’s going to have a rude awakening. Denver is going to be so fun. We’re going to blow the roof off that place.”
[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJDbzEjEiKc]
Cerrone was victorious this past Saturday after knocking out Brown with a vicious whiplash head kick at UFC 206. Although most fighters demand months off to recuperate after a grueling training camp and fight, Cerrone prefers to never stray too far from the cage.
“There is nothing more I love more than being in a throw-down on a Saturday night,” said Cerrone. “I have the job that allows me to keep doing it, so why not keep doing it?”
Fans eager to watch Cerrone will only see him fight in the UFC. Despite his popularity and personality, the “Cowboy” refuses to ever cross-over into the WWE.
“Not a chance,” commented Cerrone. “I don’t take much pride in fake fighting.”
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Conor McGregor is currently the most dominant force in the UFC in the cage and on the microphone, and Cerrone tipped his wide-brimmed hat to McGregor for his success.
“We handle our business in different ways, but it all comes down to business,” said Cerrone. “He talks however he wants. He’s great at selling himself and pay per views.”
Cerrone’s own dominance has been undeniable, as he has claimed twelve of his last thirteen fights over the past three years. The fight with Masvidal will be a welterweight bout, where Cerrone has won four in a row and has his eyes on Tyrone Woodley’s UFC welterweight championship. That title, however, did not make it onto Cerrone’s Christmas list.
“There’s nothing on my Christmas list,” said Cerrone. “I’ll probably go to Mexico. Who knows, it depends on what Mama wants to do. I’m not sure what we’re doing. I don’t really believe in Christmas, so I don’t hang out or celebrate too much, but we’ll figure it out.”
With only limited time to prepare for Masvidal (31–11), Cerrone plans on starting his training camp on December 26.
“All my teammates just went home to spend Christmas with their families,” said Cerrone. “We’re going to pick back up the day after Christmas and get after it.”
Cerrone stressed that he continues to fight so frequently—with four fights during each of the past four years—because he was raised to believe that people should be proud to go to work every day.
“I want all of the blue collar American working class people to know that I’m out there fighting for them,” said Cerrone. “People ask me, ‘Why don’t you take time off?’ but the working class doesn’t take time off. They’re out there working every day. That’s what I do, too. I want them to know there is hope, and I’m out there just like they are.”
Justin Barrasso can be reached atJBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
