Donald Cerrone is 4-0 since joining the UFC, and in those four fights, he has finished three of his opponents, earned three different fight night awards, and has worked himself into contender position in the lightweight division.
At the beginning of 2011, the division was incredibly crowded, and the draw and subsequent injuries to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard tied up the division for months.
However, now on the precipice of 2012, the division has been significantly thinned out, leaving only three real contenders left.
The first is Benson Henderson, who will face Frankie Edgar at UFC 144. The second is Gilbert Melendez, who will likely be staying in Strikeforce and the third is Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
At UFC 141, I expect Donald Cerrone to defeat Nick Diaz. Then at UFC 144, I believe that Benson Henderson will defeat Frankie Edgar.
Then, Cerrone will likely fight someone, perhaps Gray Maynard, at around UFC 145.
When Cerrone wins that fight, it will set up a third fight with Benson Henderson, this time with the UFC lightweight title on the line.
The first time these two met, the WEC interim lightweight belt was on the line, and in a 48-47 decision, Henderson won.
Then, the second time, the true WEC lightweight belt was on the line, and Cerrone got caught in a trademark Benson Henderson-standing guillotine choke.
However, since that time, Cerrone has won six in a row, with four finishes, and has established himself as a top lightweight.
Cerrone has learned from past mistakes, and in a third matchup with Henderson, Cerrone would know what to do.
With his high-level kickboxing and outstanding ground game to back that up, nothing is going to stop Donald Cerrone in 2012.
He will be the lightweight champion, and he will prove that the WEC lightweights are the real deal.
Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.
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