Cerrone continues to stay active against Nate Diaz
After an entertaining WEC career, Donald Cerrone is quickly becoming a top UFC lightweight contender.
The 21-fight veteran easily defeated Dennis Siver last Saturday night, earning his thirteenth submission in the process. Now, riding a six-fight win streak, “Cowboy” is ready to get back in the cage as soon as possible.
“I just want to fight,” Cerrone told HeavyMMA.com’s Megan Olivi following his win. “Don’t care (who I fight). I really don’t. They pay me to fight, I come to fight.”
Cerrone had a name in mind for his next opponent.
“I do want to still fight Nam Phan,” Cerrone told Heavy.com. “I do want to fight at ’45. If they give me him, that’d be awesome.”
Unfortunately for Cerrone, Phan will not be his next opponent. Instead, he meets fellow contender Nate Diaz at UFC 141 in a match-up that should thrill fans around the world.
Diaz last fought at UFC 135, defeating Takanori Gomi via submission. The Stockton native, while not on a great winning streak, is one of the most difficult lightweights to defeat. Having only been stopped once, Diaz will prove a handful for Cerrone, but the former WEC top contender doesn’t care who he fights. All he cares about is stepping in the cage and putting on a great performance.
“I’d fight anybody. It’s a job to me and friendship is put aside. Stack them up. I’ll fight them anytime, anywhere.”
Clearly motivated, Cerrone is prepared to step inside the cage whenever the UFC wants him to. And on a four-fight winning streak in the promotion, “Cowboy” is quickly becoming one of the more legitimate contenders in 2011.
When asked about how the year went for him, Cerrone simply replied with a very clear statement that he is not done yet.
“It’s not over yet,” Cerrone said. “It’s happening so fast. Title talk in a year? I figured it was going to take a couple of years. I kind of have a lot to learn, a lot of soul searching to do to get my mind right.”
Cerrone’s singular focus on fighting as much as possible doesn’t allow him to think about going after the UFC title, but he says he’ll be ready if the UFC chooses him as the next contender after his fight with Diaz.
“If they give it to me, I’ll have to do what I gotta do.”