Donald Cerrone has revealed that he did not want to be in the cage with Conor McGregor at UFC 246. UFC veteran Donald Cerrone will return to the octagon after about a year’s hiatus since his last outing against Alex Morono at UFC on ESPN 24. He will take on another seasoned pro in Joe […]
Donald Cerrone has revealed that he did not want to be in the cage with Conor McGregor at UFC 246.
UFC veteran Donald Cerrone will return to the octagon after about a year’s hiatus since his last outing against Alex Morono at UFC on ESPN 24. He will take on another seasoned pro in Joe Lauzon when the two go to war in what could very well be their last fight at UFC 274. Lauzon will come back to competition after an extended layoff following his most recent bout with Jonathan Pearce in 2019, the same year we last saw Cerrone win.
It’s been an emotional road so far for Cerrone, who struggled to hold back tears while talking about his son’s influence on his upcoming fight this weekend. Given the possibility that this could be the last time we get to witness ‘Cowboy’ in action, sentiments are running high with nostalgia.
In an interview with ESPN, Donald Cerrone talked about his loss against ‘The Notorious One’ and revealed that he did not want to be in the octagon at the time.
Cowboy reveals he didn't want to be in the Octagon with McGregor back in 2020 #UFC274
Cerrone recognized the magnitude of the event and courageously opened up about his mental state for the bout.
“On the Conor McGregor fight, the biggest eyes, millions watching, my moment, and I didn’t wanna be there. I cannot answer that any clearer. It was such a strange feeling.”
He talked about how McGregor gave him the opening to quit, and despite having an abundance of experience, he took it that day.
“When I was in the back, I didn’t even wanna go out there. So when Conor gave me the door, I took it. That was my inner bi**h. I took the door, let’s get out of here. It’s that easy. It’s that easy in a fight to get out, and I took it. I have to live with that every day.”
‘The Mystic Mac’ took home a knockout win with a head kick and strikes in just 40 seconds of the opening round.
Donald Cerrone vs. Lauzon Open The Main Card Of UFC 274
As much of a slump as Donald Cerrone has been going through, his opponent has not been doing much better either. In what looks to be at least one of the men’s retirement fights if not for both, the stakes are high for Joe Lauzon as well. Although ‘J-Lau’ kept the door open and expressed interest in fighting again given it makes sense to him, an unfavorable outcome this Saturday could change it all.
In a card stacked to the brim with talent, Cerrone and Lauzon will kick off the main show at UFC 274. Two title fights will follow for the headliner and co-main event when reigning UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will defend his gold against Justin Gaethje in the main event.
UFC women’s strawweight queen Rose Namajunas will feature in the co-main event when she takes on Carla Esparza in a rematch about eight years in the making since their first encounter.
Do you think Donald Cerrone will win against Joe Lauzon at UFC 274?
Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone are taking their friendship into the cage. Two men with over 60 fights in the UFC will be meeting in the middle of the Octagon at UFC 274. Joe Lauzon will be meeting Donald Cerrone on the main card of UFC 274. Both men are very experienced veterans of the…
Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone are taking their friendship into the cage.
Two men with over 60 fights in the UFC will be meeting in the middle of the Octagon at UFC 274. Joe Lauzon will be meeting Donald Cerrone on the main card of UFC 274. Both men are very experienced veterans of the sport, and they know how to get into their opponent’s heads.
In this fight, however, there will be no mind games leading up to the fight. There is a friendship between them that will be brought into the cage on Saturday night.
“No, we’ve both been doing this a long time. I don’t think it’s going to change anything….he was like, ‘Oh, is your family coming? I asked somebody. It’s, ‘Oh, it’s all good.’ Like, we’re friendly, but I promise we’re gonna try to murder each other on Saturday. It’s like, that’s what we do,” Lauzon said during UFC 274 media day.
Both Lauzon and Cerrone have hit a rough patch recently. Lauzon has lost three of his last four fights but is coming off a win. Cerrone on the other hand has lost five of his last six fights.
Despite the losses, there is still a sense of competition coming into this bout. Lauzon likened his ability to flip the switch from personal to business to his relationship with his sparring partners, whom he claims he always tries to take the heads off of.
“That’s what I do to my friends to try to get ready, and there’s no money on the line, right? But now that we’re competing for real, this is the real deal, we will try to murder each other,” Lauzon said.
It is unclear if UFC 274 will be the final event for either man, but is so they will be going out with respect for each other. UFC takes place on Saturday, May 7 from the Footprint Center in Arizona. The event is being headlined by the lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
Joe Lauzon has ruled out talks of retirement after his upcoming encounter with Donald Cerrone at UFC 274. Having last fought in October 2019, Lauzon has remained semi-retired from competition since his last active year in 2017. ‘J-Lau’ did not officially move on, with one fight in the following two years each, and stated that […]
Joe Lauzon has ruled out talks of retirement after his upcoming encounter with Donald Cerrone at UFC 274.
Having last fought in October 2019, Lauzon has remained semi-retired from competition since his last active year in 2017. ‘J-Lau’ did not officially move on, with one fight in the following two years each, and stated that he would not return unless there was something that strongly interested him.
Three years departed from his last outing against Jonathan Pearce, an offer to fight Donald Cerrone ultimately convinced Lauzon to come back to action. Both Cerrone and Lauzon are veterans of the sport and have amassed a combined 33 fight-night bonuses in their time with the UFC.
Speaking to media ahead of his bout this weekend, Joe Lauzon talked about his relationship with Donald Cerrone. “We’re friendly,” Lauzon said. “But we’re going to try to murder each other Saturday night.” (h/t MMA Junkie).
Joe Lauzon is open to more fights
Coming out of his break to compete against Cerrone, members of the community speculated about what the future looks like for Lauzon. It seemed like this might be his last fight. However, the 37-year-old American fighter is open to more fights in the future if he believes them to be worth the efforts.
“I have to like the opponent, I have to like the date, and I have to like the location,” Lauzon said. “If this is the last fight, cool. If this is not the last fight, cool. But just keep sending me names.”
Lauzon last fought in 2019 to stop Pearce in the first round via a TKO. While Cerrone has been the more active fighter, he hasn’t won a bout since 2019 and goes into UFC 274 with high stakes. This could be the last time fans get to witness both men in action as they continue through the later part of their careers.
Do you think this is the last fight for Joe Lauzon & Donald Cerrone?
Former UFC lightweight champion, Donald Cerrone struggled to hold back tears and emotions as he previewed his pivotal UFC 274 main card opener against Joe Lauzon this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona – detailing the influence his son, Dacson Danger, had on his camp and the impact he will have on his father’s walkout at the […]
Former UFC lightweight champion, Donald Cerrone struggled to hold back tears and emotions as he previewed his pivotal UFC 274 main card opener against Joe Lauzon this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona – detailing the influence his son, Dacson Danger, had on his camp and the impact he will have on his father’s walkout at the Footprint Center.
Cerrone, a one-time lightweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, potentially fights for his future with the organization this weekend in the ‘Copper State’ – attempting to snap a run of six fights without a victory.
The Colorado native most recently featured at the welterweight limit against Alex Morono in May of last year at UFC Vegas 26, suffering an opening round knockout loss.
Donald Cerrone’s most recent win came against Al Iaquinta In May 2019
Returning to the lightweight division for the first time since a September 2019 headliner against event main event feature, Justin Gaethje against Lauzon this weekend, Cerrone let out his emotions during his media availability this week ahead of UFC 274, discussing the importance of his son during his fight camp; a key point of inspiration to the veteran
“It’s not me, it’s my son,” Donald Cerrone told assembled media as he fought back tears. “I can’t wait to walk out of that tunnel and see the look on his face. I can’t wait. He finally knows what I do. It’s crazy how emotional I get but any time I was working out and I didn’t want to do it, that’s who I thought of. I cannot f*cking wait.”
“I cannot wait to see him smile like, ‘Wow, this is my dad’ so to me that’s why I wanted a sold-out crowd,” Donald Cerrone said. “To walk out of that tunnel, blow the roof off this place and look over and see my son like, ‘Wow, dad, that’s you.”
Cerrone, 39, detailed how his young son now has somewhat of an understanding of his father’s profession, which has now created a dialogue between the two surrounding Cerrone’s fights.
“He’s almost four and he’ll be able to grasp that,” Donald Cerrone said of his son. “He still doesn’t know what I do. Like, ‘You’re going to Vegas to go to work, dad?’ He doesn’t know what that means. He loves Ninja Turtles, he loves fighting, so I can’t wait to ask him, ‘What Ninja Turtle is daddy going to be tonight?’ ‘cause I’m going to go out there and kick some f*cking ass so watch out.”(Transcribed by MMA Fighting)
UFC 274 is quickly approaching, and we’ve got our staff predictions ready for you ahead of this weekend’s big card! UFC 274 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary…
UFC 274 is quickly approaching, and we’ve got our staff predictions ready for you ahead of this weekend’s big card!
UFC 274 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary card starts at 5:30 PM. The event will take place from The Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the main event, reigning champion Charles Oliveira will defend the lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in what will be Gaethje’s second attempt at UFC gold after falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020. The co-main event will see another title fight in a rematch between strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and her opponent, Carla Esparza.
Prior to the title fights, fan-favorites Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson will lock horns in a bout that could very easily steal the show.
Also on the main card, we could very well be seeing the final Octagon appearance for the loser of Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon, or perhaps even both veterans. You won’t want to miss this monumental battle between two of the UFC’s most familiar faces.
Additionally, there will be a light heavyweight rematch between two other UFC veterans when Ovince Saint Preux takes on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
UFC 274 Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 274 updates. I, Harvey Leonard, and Andrew Starc have provided our picks for you below.
Here is the full main card for UFC 274:
UFC Lightweight Championship Bout: Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Justin Gaethje
UFC Strawweight Championship Bout: Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Carla Esparza
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Donald Cerrone, Joe Lauzon
Clyde Aidoo: Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon are both long-toothed veterans of the UFC. With the two combatants being 39 and 37 years old respectively and both losing more than winning in recent years, many fighters could adopt the belief that this is anyone’s fight. I don’t quite think that’s the case.
The one difference that stands out to me between these two men’s records is the level of competition. Cerrone has continued to face ranked fighters and former champions while Lauzon has primarily tangled with fellow unranked veterans, such as his UFC 274 opponent Cerrone.
That said, I’m not looking at this fight from a “Who’s form is currently worse as of late?” perspective. I’m judging this fight the same way I would if these two were paired together at any point in their careers: which is that Lauzon is unlikely to join the list of names like Conor McGregor, Darren Till, and Justin Gaethje in putting away Cerrone early.
If that’s the case, Cerrone will warm up. And once Cerrone warms up, I believe him to be better than Lauzon just about everywhere. (Prediction: Donald Cerrone)
Harvey Leonard: Hopefully this is an entertaining fight for both men to bow out with. While “Cowboy” is inherently the better fighter, he certainly can’t take shots like he used to, and it’s clear that pressure has become his enemy. Although I’d expect a long fight to benefit Cerrone, it seems clear that Lauzon knows that and is targeting a quick start. With that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised if an aggressive Lauzon hurts and finishes “Cowboy” relatively early. (Prediction: Joe Lauzon)
Andrew Starc: A victory for Donald Cerrone here will be his 24th in the UFC, making him the winningest fighter in the promotion’s history. But it would also be his first in seven fights. Can the 39-year-old Cerrone get back in the win column? I don’t think so.
The wear and tear “Cowboy” has sustained over his career has well and truly caught up to him. While Joe Lauzon hasn’t fought since 2019, and his résumé isn’t nearly as impressive as Cerrone’s, I think he gets it done. (Prediction: Joe Lauzon)
Consensus: 2-1 Lauzon
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Getty Images
Clyde Aidoo: With Rua only losing one fight out of his last four Octagon appearances while Saint Preux has dropped three of his last four, Rua has looked better in recent years. However, we haven’t seen Rua compete since 2020 and he’s now hit 40, so it’s difficult to project how he’ll look in his return this weekend.
For me, this fight is a toss-up. And when that’s the case, I’ll go with the fighter who’s already proven he could beat the opponent at hand, in this case, that would be Saint Preux. (Prediction: Ovince Saint Preux)
Harvey Leonard: I think this one will be an uphill battle for Rua from the start. While “OSP” is on a poor run of form, losing consecutive fights via KO, a finish on the feet is unlikely to be a worry for him this time around. It’s always tough to predict when two veterans collide, but it seems Saint Preux just has more left in him. If he can avoid being bogged down by Rua’s wrestling, I’d expect a TKO or KO to come à la “OSP” vs. “Shogun” 1, or a submission when a hurt Rua changes levels. (Prediction: Ovince Saint Preux)
Andrew Starc: When these two met in 2014, Ovince St. Preux got the KO in just 34 seconds. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge for the duo since then, however. Saint Preux has lost three of his last four, with his last victory coming against Alonzo Menifield in 2020.
Maurício Rua, meanwhile, has been inactive since November 2020, when he lost via submission to Paul Craig. St. Preux is the betting favorite, but I’m predicting the 40-year-old Rua will wind back the clock and get the win. (Prediction: Maurício Rua)
Consensus: 2-1 Saint Preux
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler
Clyde Aidoo: If this fight took place three years ago, I’d side with El Cucuy with a decent level of confidence. But it’s difficult to do so in 2022.
I can see Chandler winning one of two ways. He could use his speed advantage and explosiveness to potentially run through Ferguson, whose chin and durability may never be the same again after being brutally pummeled by Gaethje two years ago. Or, Chandler could put his wrestling background to good use against Ferguson, as Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush did before him.
Ferguson claims to have gone back to his wrestling roots in preparation for this fight. If his takedown defense holds up and he can weather the first-round storm of Chandler, then this fight could very well be Ferguson’s to win. But those are two big ifs that are hard to bank on in 2022. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Harvey Leonard: As much as this is a fan-friendly bout that should deliver entertainment, it’s also a crucial one. So far in the UFC, Chandler’s stock hasn’t dropped in defeat. Against Oliveira, he was moments away from the title, and his part in a FOTY with Gaethje certainly maintained his reputation.
This time, defeat would be damaging for “Iron.” Given the manner of Ferguson’s recent performances and the names he’s lost to, a setback to “El Cucuy” would create a sizable gap between Chandler and the top contenders. With that said, I expect him to prioritize the win over entertainment this time. If that is the case, he’ll have the tools to grind out the victory, something he’ll know having seen Ferguson’s last two losses. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Andrew Starc: Tony Ferguson’s recent slump in form isn’t news to anyone, and at 38 years old, many believe he’s lost a step. But I don’t think he’s seen his last victory in the UFC. “El Cucuy’s” unorthodox style, phenomenal work rate, and legendary gas tank could pose problems for Michael Chandler, who’s coming off back-to-back losses.
Yes, Chandler could very well put a Justin Gaethje-style beat-down on Ferguson, but I’m picking Tony for the upset win. (Prediction: Tony Ferguson)
Consensus: 2-1 Chandler
Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza
Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza
Clyde Aidoo: Earlier, I mentioned that if a fight is a pick-em, I’m going to side with the fighter who has proven they can defeat the opponent. However, I’m not siding with Esparza here. The reason? This fight isn’t a pick-em, and it is no longer 2014.
Nope, Namajunas is now a much more patient, versatile, and lethal foe for Esparza. I can imagine her staying at a distance where she could pick Esparza apart or knock her out. Mind you, Namajunas has managed to finish two of the toughest women in the entire company: Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili. So finishing Esparza is certainly a plausible outcome for the UFC 274 co-main event.
Esparza has made her improvements but far more subtly and incrementally than Namajunas has. Ultimately, her path to victory is still to outwrestle Namajunas as she did eight years ago. Only now, Namajunas poses an even bigger threat on the mat and is much more likely to employ tactics to stop the fight from even making it there. (Prediction: Rose Namajunas)
Harvey Leonard: Esparza’s form since 2018 has been something to behold, and her pressure wrestling and ground and pound are dangerous for anyone. And given the fact Zhang managed seven takedowns at UFC 268, I think it’s safe to say that Esparza will manage the feat at some point.
However, “Thug Rose” has great scrambles and I can’t see her being kept down long enough for “Cookie Monster” to unload with strikes or work to a finish. When the fight is on the feet, Namajunas should have a clear edge, even if it is just by landing more impactful strikes in low-volume frames. (Prediction: Rose Namajunas)
Andrew Starc: Rose Namajunas is of course a completely different fighter from the one who lost via submission to Carla Esparza in 2014. After avenging her loss to Jéssica Andrade, then regaining and defending her strawweight title against Weili Zhang, the 29-year-old looks virtually unbeatable.
Esparza, meanwhile, is on a five-fight win streak and possesses the wrestling to pose problems for Namajunas. I’m picking Esparza to get the upset victory and regain the title she lost in 2015. (Prediction: Carla Esparza)
Consensus: 2-1 Namajunas
Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje
Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje
Clyde Aidoo: This is a tough one. My mind says Gaethje wears out Oliveira on the feet after using his wrestling background and takedown defense to keep the fight standing. Oliveira may be a submission guru but he’s no Khabib when it comes to taking the fight to the mat.
My gut tells me that Oliveira has arguably more ways to win a fight than anyone on the entire UFC roster right now and that his confidence and sly knack for creating a path to victory is second to none and will be on display yet again on Saturday.
So which will I side with? I’m sorry, but 10 straight victories bleed straight from my gut, into my brain, and finally onto my pick. It’s pretty hard to bet against that track record.
“Do Bronx” is every bit as slick as he is talented, so I’m going to side with his veteran intangibles and prime form to get it done someway, maybe when we least expect it and successfully defending his title for the second time. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Harvey Leonard: At UFC 269, I predicted that should Poirier hurt Oliveira as Chandler did, he’d have the power and finishing instinct to put “Do Bronx” away. Having been proven wrong by the Brazilian, I’m not sure there’s any basis to doubt the toughness and grit of the current iteration of Oliveira. With that in mind, and should he survive any hairy moments, I think the champ’s well-rounded game will take him to a second successful title defense, probably via submission.
Gaethje’s threat on the feet can never be counted out and a knockout could always happen, but with Oliveira’s development in the standup realm, coupled with his BJJ talents, I expect it’ll take a grappling specialist like Dariush or Makhachev to dethrone him, not the striking-heavy game of “The Highlight.” (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Andrew Starc: Written off many a time, Charles Oliveira continues to prove why he’s the best in the lightweight division. He’s now won his last 10 fights, and only one of those victories came by decision. But can he deal with the KO power of Gaethje?
While Oliveira was almost put away by the similarly heavy-handed Michael Chandler, I think he can weather the storm from Gaethje and get the fight to the ground. Despite Gaethje’s impressive wrestling, I’m picking the Brazilian to extend his UFC submission record to 16. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Consensus: 3-0 Oliveira
That’ll do it for our UFC 274 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 274 undercard below.
UFC 274 Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+ 8:00 PM ET)
Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams
Macy Chiasson vs. Norma Dumont
Brandon Royval vs. Matt Schnell
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+ 5:30 PM)
Danny Roberts vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto
Kleydison Rodrigues vs. CJ Vergara
Ariane Carnelossi vs. Loopy Godinez
Fernie Garcia vs. Journey Newson
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com Saturday for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 274!
UFC President Dana White believes that the UFC 274 main card opener between Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon has career-ending stakes. This weekend will see two veterans collide on the pay-per-view main stage in Phoenix, Arizona. On one side will be fan favorite Cerrone, who has fought a who’s who of UFC stars since arriving…
UFC President Dana White believes that the UFC 274 main card opener between Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon has career-ending stakes.
This weekend will see two veterans collide on the pay-per-view main stage in Phoenix, Arizona. On one side will be fan favorite Cerrone, who has fought a who’s who of UFC stars since arriving in the promotion in 2011.
From Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje to Charles Oliveira and Eddie Alvarez, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more impressive résumé name-wise than that of “Cowboy.”
His opponent, known as “J-Lau,” will be returning from a near-three-year layoff this Saturday. The Massachusetts native, who has shared the cage with the likes of Clay Guida, Al Iaquinta, Anthony Pettis, and Kenny Florian, hasn’t appeared since snapping a three-fight losing skid by TKOing Jonathan Pearce at UFC on ESPN 6 in 2019.
We've got a throwback battle between 2 legends this weekend.
With 97 professional fights and 34 combined years of cage time between them, the UFC 274 opener is the very definition of a ‘clash of veterans’. And for Dana White, it should represent the final outing for one of the long-time UFC athletes.
Cerrone enters his 38th UFC fight riding a torrid run of form that’s seen him unable to secure a victory in his last six appearances. That period has seen him finished four times via strikes. Lauzon, meanwhile, lost a trio of consecutive fights against Guida, Stevie Ray, and Chris Gruetzemacher before rebounding against Pearce.
With 14 knockout losses between them, it’s safe to say that another stoppage loss for either man should perhaps signal the end, especially when it’s considered that this bout falls just one short of the record for combined losses between two opposing UFC fighters.
While their bout this weekend is set to be an entertaining one in spite of their late-career declines, the extra stakes of a retirement match will add an intriguing aspect to the PPV opener.
Do you agree with Dana White? Should the loser of Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon retire following UFC 274?
#UFC274
Joe Lauzon has ruled out talks of retirement after his upcoming encounter with Donald Cerrone at UFC 274. Having last fought in October 2019, Lauzon has remained semi-retired from competition since his last active year in 2017. ‘J-Lau’ did not officially move on, with one fight in the following two years each, and stated that […]
Former UFC lightweight champion, Donald Cerrone struggled to hold back tears and emotions as he previewed his pivotal UFC 274 main card opener against Joe Lauzon this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona – detailing the influence his son, Dacson Danger, had on his camp and the impact he will have on his father’s walkout at the […]
