Donald Cerrone is a fighter in one of the most stacked weight classes in the UFC, the 155-pound lightweight division. He is a former WEC lightweight where he competed for a belt three times. He has a professional record of 18-4 [one NC], and is 5-1 since joining the UFC.
In addition to all that, he has the right mentality when it comes to fighting, and the sport of MMA in general.
This Saturday, Cerrone will face off against “The Young Assasin,” Melvin Guillard. Guillard and Cerrone are friends, and used to train together at Jackson’s MMA.
Normally, friends will refuse to fight each other, but both Cerrone and Guillard understand that when they’re going out there to fight each other, it’s nothing personal.
Friends refusing to fight each other is not exactly uncommon. This was seen in the recent saga of Jon Jones and Rashad Evans, who ended up becoming bitter enemies, and is being talked about with Georges St-Pierre and Rory MacDonald, who have dismissed any talks of them fighting.
Even before those four fighters, there was controversy with Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, who had trained together prior to them fighting.
Fighters need to start realizing that going out there and fighting someone does not have to be personal.
Cerrone has said that he would fight anyone, including his “brother,” Leonard Garcia. Cerrone and Garcia train together at Jackson’s, live together on a ranch that they own, and are essentially brothers.
Cerrone spoke to Pro MMA Radio—transcribed by BJPenn.com—and said the following,
As for me, I will fight anyone. I will fight anybody. I would fight Leonard (Garcia), and I live with him. Does that answer your question? I would fight Clay (Guida), and he will still be my boy. I mean, this is what we do, we’re professionals and there is going to come a time when teammates are going to have to fight. That’s just the way it goes.
Cerrone understands that this is a business, and that fighting is only personal if you make it personal.
Guillard and Cerrone are going to put on a fantastic fight on Saturday and will still be friends when it’s over.
Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter @TimMcTiernan.
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