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?
UFC veteran Jim Miller wouldn’t mind running it back one more time with Joe Lauzon before their careers come to a close. Miller earned a dominant win over Nikolas Motta at UFC Vegas 48 via second-round TKO. The victory put him in a tie with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone for most UFC wins by a single…
UFC veteran Jim Miller wouldn’t mind running it back one more time with Joe Lauzon before their careers come to a close.
Miller earned a dominant win over Nikolas Motta at UFC Vegas 48 via second-round TKO. The victory put him in a tie with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone for most UFC wins by a single fighter.
Miller has now won back-to-back fights after 14 years in the Octagon, dating back to his debut win against David Baron at UFC 89. Leading up to UFC Vegas 48, he dismantled an up-and-coming Erick Gonzalez with a brutal knockout last October.
Miller and Lauzon are two of the most veteran fighters in the promotion and have gone to battle twice before. Both men are arguably in the twilight of their careers and their days in the cage may be numbered.
Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon II, Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
During his UFC Vegas 48 post-fight press conference, Miller named Lauzon as a possible next opponent and likes the idea of their trilogy taking place in a main event.
“No—I mean, you’ve got Lauzon and Cerrone fighting again, and I don’t know what the plans are after that,” Miller said. “I mean, they’re both guys I’ve shared time in the Octagon with, and it’s like, ‘hey, I’ve got two against Joe, and do you go and do it again?’ Fuck yeah, we’ll do it again. I love that guy. If we could sell it, and main event a small card or something like that—because we’re two old guys that have been around for a while— then let’s do it and get the main event bonus. And a guy like Cerrone, another one, I’ve got a ton of respect for him, and if he wants to do it, let’s do it.”
Miller and Lauzon last fought against one another at a UFC Fight Night event in 2016, with Miller earning a controversial split decision win. It was a close fight that divided fans as to who came out as the victor.
Their first fight took place at UFC 155 with Miller earning a unanimous decision win.
Lauzon is slated to face Cerrone at UFC 274 later this year. It’s unclear what the interest would be from Lauzon regarding a trilogy with Miller, but it could help bring clarity to the matchup of two of the most seasoned athletes in UFC history.
A lightweight pairing between veteran division contenders, Donald Cerrone, and Joe Lauzon has been added to a UFC Fight Night 208 event on April 30. – with a location or venue for the event yet to be determined by the organization. For Denver native, Cerrone, the veteran will make his first lightweight excursion since May […]
A lightweight pairing between veteran division contenders, Donald Cerrone, and Joe Lauzon has been added to a UFC Fight Night 208 event on April 30. – with a location or venue for the event yet to be determined by the organization.
For Denver native, Cerrone, the veteran will make his first lightweight excursion since May 2018 where he grabbed a unanimous decision win over Al Iaquinta at UFC Fight Night Ottawa in a main event slot.
Donald Cerrone will attempt to snap a run of five losses in his last six Octagon appearances against Joe Lauzon
For Lauzon, the Massachusetts grappling expert will make his first outing since a homecoming UFC Fight Night Boston clash against Jonathan Pearce back in October 2019, scoring a first round ground strikes win to snap a three-fight losing run. Nolan King of MMA Junkie was first to report the pairing of Cerrone and Lauzon.
Before his May loss to Morono, Cerrone, one-time lightweight title challenger battled to an eventual official ‘No Contest’ against Niko Price – snapping a run of four consecutive losses.
After his May 2018 win over Iaquinta, Cerrone would suffer a trio of comprehensive stoppage defeats against former division champions, Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, and Conor McGregor.
The Ottawa win over Iaquinta came as the third as part of a purple patch for the former Jackson-Wink MMA staple, where he stopped both Alexander Hernandez with strikes, and former teammate, Mike Perry with a submission win.
The Ultimate Fighter 6 semi final feature, Lauzon boasts a 28-15 professional record, and has lodged an impressive 17 separate career submission victories.
Amongst his list of victories since his 2006 Octagon debut, Lauzon has bested the likes of Jens Pulver, Jeremy Stephens, Melvin Guillard, Jamie Varner, Michael Chiesa, Takanori Gomi, and Diego Sanchez.
After speculation about his fighting future circulated last year, the Cowboy will ride again when Donald Cerrone meets Joe Lauzon at a UFC Fight Night event on April 30. Following his TKO loss to Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson last May, many fans were wondering if Cerrone had fought in the […]
After speculation about his fighting future circulated last year, the Cowboy will ride again when Donald Cerrone meets Joe Lauzon at a UFC Fight Night event on April 30.
Following his TKO loss to Alex Morono at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson last May, many fans were wondering if Cerrone had fought in the Octagon for the last time. After all, that now made him winless in his last six fights, with four of those bouts ending via TKO.
UFC President Dana White addressed Cerrone’s future last year, indicating that he would allow Cowboy to move back down to lightweight for another fight but that a loss would mean the end of his legendary run in the UFC. We now know that this crucial bout will be against Joe Lauzon on April 30 based on a report Friday from MMA Junkie.
Like Cerrone, Joe Lauzon has also been competing in the UFC for over a decade. Making his Octagon debut in 2006, Lauzon has gone 15-12 during this run, with Fight of the Night performances against standouts like Jim Miller (twice), Michael Chiesa, and Kenny Florian. He also won a Performance of the Night over Diego Sanchez at the historic UFC 200 event in 2016.
Donald Cerrone’s most recent victory came against Al Iaquinta in 2019. The last time he won Performance of the Night was with his sick armbar victory over Mike Perry in November 2018.
Image Credit: MMA Fighting
With this bout set, the updated lineup for the April 30 Fight Night card is as follows:
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Cortney Casey vs. Antonina Shevchenko
Gina Mazany vs. Shanna Young
Francisco Figueiredo vs. Daniel da Silva
Mike Breeden vs. Natan Levy
What is your prediction for this fight between UFC veterans Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon on April 30?
A lightweight pairing between veteran division contenders, Donald Cerrone, and Joe Lauzon has been added to a UFC Fight Night 208 event on April 30. – with a location or venue for the event yet to be determined by the organization. For Denver native, Cerrone, the veteran will make his first lightweight excursion since May […]/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13424161/179_Donald_Cerrone_x_Mike_Perry.jpg)