Donald Cerrone continued his lightweight resurgence earlier tonight (Sat., May 4, 2019) at UFC on ESPN+ 9 live on ESPN+ from inside Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, when he outworked proven contender Al Iaquinta over the course of five hard-fought rounds to earn a unanimous decision win (scroll for highlights).
Cerrone started to score early with lead jabs and leg kicks. Iaquinta rebounded to stick “Cowboy” with a right hand and then an inside uppcercut later in the first round. Cerrone returned the favor with a huge knee that stunned “Raging Al” before the round came to an end.
Sticking leg kicks by Cerrone started to damage Iaquinta early in the second. That didn’t stop Iaquinta from stunning Cerrone with a big combination. Cerrone kept busy and landed more leads jabs on an incoming Iaquinta, but “Raging Al” eventually landed a big right hand that wobbled “Cowboy” towards the end of the frame.
The damage really started to show on Iaquinta’s face early into the third. Cerrone smelled blood (literally) and went back to the leg kicks to slow Iqauinta down. “Cowboy” soon landed a big left that stopped Iaquinta in his tracks. Body kicks by Cerrone followed. And then another lead jab put Iaquinta on his butt for the first knockdown of the fight.
Cerrone continued his onslaught in the fourth round with another knockdown of Iaquinta. This time it came from a perfected front kick to the face that sent “Raging Al” to the canvas. Iaqauinta regained some momentum in the final minutes by landing a few flush left hooks, but Cerrone was too persistent with lead combinations and kicks to the body.
The doctor’s checked Iaquinta’s bloody face entering the fifth round but the New Yorker demanded he continue. Iaquinta actually started to land some punches with good countering off of Cerrone’s flurries, but “Cowboy’s” precision and shot selection ultimately proved superior. Cerrone scored with forward combinations, more leg kicks, and a stinging head kick with 30 seconds on the click as both men swung for the fences.
Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
What an ending to this fight!! #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/oGnisxe5mi
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
Another angle #UFCOttawa @CowboyCerrone pic.twitter.com/Q7BvUEi9WV
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
FRONT KICK TO THE FACE!@CowboyCerrone #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/DQBvUPDFo9
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
Short shot by @Cowboycerrone puts Iaquinta down #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/HqUIO1kx2u
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 5, 2019
Iaquinta tags Cowboy with two HUGE right hands! #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/ZzjXI5fdws
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
Things are heating up between @Cowboycerrone and @ALIAQUINTA in the #UFCOttawa main event on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/NqwkaXVv0V
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 5, 2019
Here we go!#UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/WqOpNGXq0F
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
Raging Al!#UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/w3wcji0TqC
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
Here comes the Cowboy!#UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/6VwwhWmxtU
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019
For complete UFC Ottawa results and coverage click here.