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Donald Cerrone Admits Khabib Nurmagomedov Is ‘Getting Under His Skin’

Donald Cerrone prefers to do his talking inside the cage.
While the hard-charging lightweight is a champion where colorful soundbites are concerned, the surging contender typically steers away from beef in the pre-fight build-up. This is due in large p…

Donald Cerrone prefers to do his talking inside the cage.

While the hard-charging lightweight is a champion where colorful soundbites are concerned, the surging contender typically steers away from beef in the pre-fight build-up. This is due in large part to “Cowboy’s” willingness to fight anyone, anywhere at anytime—a notion he’s backed up on more than a few occasions. When a fighter like Cerrone is down to throw leather and open to mix it up with all-comers at any turn, that makes social media trash-talking and lobbing verbal grenades carry a different type of weight.

Then again, his current seven-fight winning streak and elevated profile in the lightweight ranks does make him an appealing target to some, and undefeated Dagestan-born phenom Khabib Nurmagomedov is at the front of that particular line.

Immediately following the Jackson/Winkeljohn-trained fighter’s victory over Benson Henderson at Fight Night 59 back in January, “The Eagle” took to his Twitter account to jockey for a fight with Cerrone. It didn’t take long for the Albuquerque transplant to accept the bout, and the two top-ranked lightweights are slated to handle their business at UFC 187 on May 23 in Las Vegas. Yet, while the date for the fight is set for the UFC’s annual Memorial Day event, the American Kickboxing Academy representative hasn’t slowed down on taunting Cerrone over social media platforms.

Nurmagomedov has continued his online assault in the build-up to their showdown at UFC 187, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed by Cerrone. The former WEC veteran recently spoke to MMA Junkie and talked about turning his annoyance into added motivation that he will use to derail the 26-year-old Nurmagomedov at UFC 187.

“I will give Khabib everything I’ve got, I promise that. I will leave nothing in the f****** cage. The (Benson) Henderson fight, I left a lot out there. He’s really getting under my skin. He’s doing a good job of talking sh** on Twitter and trying to get under me, and it’s working. So, I’m stalking that up and I’m going to come f****** unglued.

“There’s nothing secret I’m going to do. I fight the same (every time). I’m going to come out slow and I’m going to f****** kick ass.”

Although every fight is important when competing at the highest level of the sport, Cerrone‘s upcoming bout with Nurmagomedov will come with high stakes intact. The 31-year-old Colorado native is currently in the midst of the most impressive run of his career as he’s notched seven consecutive victories inside the Octagon. While Cerrone is certainly no stranger to lengthy winning streaks, his current push up the divisional ladder is easily the most noteworthy stretch of his career due to the caliber of competition he’s knocked off in consecutive fashion.

Cerrone‘s climb up the 155-pound ranks has been motivated by the versatile striker earning his long-awaited shot at UFC gold. A shot at the lightweight title has hovered in the balance on two previous occasions for Cerrone, but he was ultimately turned back in bouts with Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis respectively.

Nevertheless, Cerrone certainly appears to have found his stride in big fights, and a victory over Nurmagomedov would make his bid for a title shot difficult to deny. While making his opponent pay for his trash-talking has provided some additional inspiration for Cerrone, getting to compete for the lightweight strap is his ultimate motivator. He wants to sit on top of the divisional mountain, and a win over the highly touted Russian finally give him the chance to do so.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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UFC 187: The Greatest UFC Card In the Past Few Years (And Possibly Ever)

Look at it. It’s glorious, isn’t it? In a UFC landscape currently being dominated by complaints of oversaturation, dwindling fan interest and rampant PED use, along comes a card to finally set us straight, or at least distract us from said oversaturation and rampant PED use for a little while.

Having already announced a complete overhaul to its drug testing program last night, the UFC dropped another bombshell later in the evening by announcing the epic lineup of its Memorial Day weekend card, UFC 187.

Details after the jump.

As confirmed by Ariel Helwani on UFC Tonight, UFC 187 will not only feature a main event light heavyweight title tilt between Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson, but a co-main event that will finally see Chris Weidman defend his middleweight title against Vitor Belfort.

Oh, and had I mentioned that Donald Cerrone will also be squaring off against Khabib Nurmagomedov in a meeting of top lightweights on that card as well? Or that Andrei Arlovski will be facing Travis Browne? Or that Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga? GOOD GOD, SOMEBODY STOP ME BEFORE I-

Despite lacking any semblance of an undercard, UFC 187 is already being hailed as the most stacked event since UFC 100, and rightfully so. Hell, it’s arguably the best lineup the UFC has ever had. Go ahead, challenge me on this. I’ll be here, grinding my teeth in anticipation for what is the most stacked UFC event ever ever.

Jon Jones, as you know, is fresh off a five-round shellacking of Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, while “Rumble” just finished disposing of the man many expected would be facing Jones next, Alexander Gustafsson.

Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort have been expected to face each other on no less than a dozen occasions, with TRT withdrawals and injuries (most recently, a rib injury on Weidman’s part) nixing the bout on multiple occasions.

As for Cerrone and Nurmagomedov, the former is currently riding career record-tying 7-fight win streak, having most recently eeked out a decision over rival/buddy Ben Henderson in January. The Russian Sambo specialist, on the other hand, was briefly linked to a fight with Cerrone at UFC 178 before a knee injury sidelined him indefinitely.

And finally, to the only guys whose careers you might not be completely up to date on. Since being knocked out by Demetrious Johnson in their UFC on FOX 9 rematch, Team Alpha Male’s Joe Benavidez has scored back-to-back wins over Tim Elliott and Dustin Ortiz. His opponent Moraga has similarly bounced back after tasting defeat against Johnson, having gone 3-1 in his past 4 fights and riding a two fight win streak into his fight with Benavidez.

Got. Damn. This card is incredible. Pray with me, Nation. Pray that this thing actually makes it to fruition.

Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone: I Think Khabib Nurmagomedov Is Next

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone just keeps winning.
Since November 2013, Cerrone has fought seven times.
He’s won seven times, too.
With his win over Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 59 Sunday evening—his second win in as many weeks&…

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone just keeps winning.

Since November 2013, Cerrone has fought seven times.

He’s won seven times, too.

With his win over Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 59 Sunday evening—his second win in as many weeks—Cerrone climbed ever closer to the top of the UFC’s lightweight mountain. A title shot is within sight for the Greg Jackson’s MMA product, but according to him, that opportunity has not arrived just yet.

Speaking at the UFC Fight Night 59 post-fight press conference, Cowboy said he’s going to take some time off then likely accept a bout against No. 2-ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov. (Skip to 15:45 in the embedded video for this quote. Warning: Link contains NSFW language.)

“Talking with (UFC President) Dana (White) and (UFC CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta), I think Khabib‘s going to be what’s next for sure,” Cerrone said. “I’m just going to take some time off and just get ready and stay ready and hopefully Khabib will be ready…I don’t know. Whatever’s next, I’m willing to take up and fight.”

For Cerrone, the words “time” and “off” usually don’t sit so closely in a sentence.

The 31-year-old fighter fought four times in 2014 and twice already in January 2015. While his willingness to fight whenever, wherever earned him tremendous respect of late, it’s probably a good thing he decided to take a little time off before his next bout.

Be it Nurmagomedov or any other top-5 lightweight, Cerrone will face an elite competitor during his next trip to the UFC Octagon. Cowboy sits on the cusp of championship contention, and one more win will almost certainly result in his first shot at UFC gold.

It’s admirable to fight as much as possible, but now is simply not the time for Cerrone to overextend himself and take a fight without being as sharp and ready as possible. Doing so could cost him his chance at the title, and another opportunity may never arise.

Against Nurmagomedov especially, Cerrone will need to be at his absolute best. The 26-year-old Dagestani fighter is a monster, racking up a perfect 22-0 record in professional mixed martial arts competition while establishing himself as one of the most polished and powerful grapplers in the sport today.

Nurmagomedov has already soundly defeated current 155-pound title challenger Rafael dos Anjos, and the only thing keeping the American Kickboxing Academy product out of the title picture is himself.

A torn meniscus forced him out of a UFC 178 bout opposite Cerrone (h/t MMAJunkie.com), and he’s been out of action since that time. Still, with his stellar resume and undeniable skills, Nurmagomedov remains just one win away from a sure chance at the UFC strap.

This makes the showdown with Cerrone all the more interesting should it materialize. Not only does it represent a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but a title shot will be on the line, revving up the stakes and adding a healthy dose of excitement and intrigue to the fight.

Nothing is finalized yet, but if Cowboy’s crystal ball proves accurate, fight fans have one fantastic lightweight scrap to look forward to in the near future.

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VIDEOS: Donald Cerrone Sneaks By Benson Henderson, Feels Kind of Bad About It Afterwards

Benson Henderson built his name on performances like the one he had on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 59. In his third fight against Donald Cerrone, Henderson landed just a little more often, stayed just a little busier, and was heading for yet another vaguely unsatisfying decision victory over an elite lightweight. Except this time, the cards didn’t fall in his favor.

All three judges scored the contest 29-28 for Cerrone, though they didn’t all agree on which two rounds Cerrone had won. Henderson looked shocked at the result, and Cerrone — who should have been jubilant at finally earning a win against an opponent who had previously beaten him twice — looked pretty bummed about the result himself. As he explains in the post-fight interview below, Cerrone wasn’t happy with his “timid” performance in the round 1, and he was sad that he gave his friend Benson his third-straight loss. (When Ariel Helwani explains that Henderson has only lost two straight, it seems to make Cerrone feel better, but not by much.)

So that’s two fights in a row where Donald Cerrone hasn’t felt too thrilled about his performance — and his third consecutive fight without winning a performance bonus, which is maybe the most shocking detail of all. Does that mean Cerrone wants to jump back in the mix right away and redeem himself? Not this time:

“I think Khabib [Nurmagomedov] is going to be what’s next, for sure,” Cerrone said at UFC Fight Night 59′s post-fight press conference. “I’m going to take some time off and just get ready and stay ready, and hopefully Khabib will be ready…

“Seven in a row, man. I feel good. It’s time to take some time off,” Cerrone said. “Talk with Dana and Lorenzo after this, go see the Super Bowl and go to Daytona 500 and just kind of hang out.”

You can’t say the man hasn’t earned it. This Bud’s for you, Cowboy.

Donald Cerrone or Khabib Nurmagomedov, Who’s the Better UFC Lightweight?

The waters surrounding, what is arguably, the most talent-rich weight class in the UFC have become even more murky following Donald Cerrone’s victory over Myles Jury at UFC 182.
Cowboy Cerrone made a case, even though he may not have thought so, …

The waters surrounding, what is arguably, the most talent-rich weight class in the UFC have become even more murky following Donald Cerrone‘s victory over Myles Jury at UFC 182.

Cowboy Cerrone made a case, even though he may not have thought so, for a shot at the 155-pound belt. The 31-year-old used a bit more motivation to batter Jury’s legs, nearly submitting the undefeated lightweight with a rear-naked choke in Round 1. The promising lightweight prospect Jury was handed his first career loss by Cerrone, who was clearly the more well-rounded fighter. For the Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA product, it’s his sixth-straight dominant victory and fifth victory in less than a year. It also creates an interesting dilemma atop the lightweight food chain.

While the fourth-ranked Cerrone has turned the Octagon into his second home, one Russian Sambo master has been eagerly awaiting his return to the cage. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has won 22 professional fights in a row, including six in the UFC, has demonstrated an eagerness to fight for the belt while recovering from knee surgery that took place in July. He has won six fights in a row, in just over a two-year span, but only fought once in 2014 due to a meniscus tear suffered just minutes after he agreed to fight Cerrone in September.

Fast forward just a few months later, and the pair of Cerrone and Nurmagomedov are back at square one. The No. 2- and No. 4-ranked lightweights could be on the eve of another potential bout for No. 1 contendership. If, and when that happens, is entirely up for discussion. Though, Nurmagomedov has already teased to UFC brass what venue might best suit a bout between the streaking contenders. But as Bleacher Report’s Raphael Garcia posed, Cerrone may elect to stay active than wait for the Russian to be medically cleared to compete.

That throws a whole shadow of doubt onto a proposed matchup between the pair down the road. Sure, with Cerrone‘s eagerness to fight, he might be ready following a fight on the February UFC card in Denver, Colorado. And what if he loses? We’ll just have to see what UFC President Dana White and Matchmaker Joe Silva cook up when they have a sitdown with Cowboy. What can be discussed, here, is whose streak has been most impressive.

The 26-year-old Russian is truly in a class of his own. Nurmagomedov owns the title of most takedowns landed in a fight in UFC history with 21 against Abel Trujillo in May 2013. He has also beaten the likes of Pat Healy and Rafael dos Anjos at their own games. What really sets Nurmagomedov apart from the rest of the lightweight division is his uncanny ability to smother a fighter.

The Russian is unrelenting in his pursuit for a takedown. He can either punch his way into a clinch, which he does a fine job of, or through a well-timed shot. Once he gets there, a thunderous storm of elbows are usually in his opponents’ forecast. His guard, while not on display a whole lot, can also be dangerous. But don’t let his illustrious accolades in Sambo, Judo and Pankration fool you, Nurmagomedov is all about the striking business too.

He’s just as deadly on the feet as he is on the ground, boasting an array of knees, hooks and uppercuts. Nurmagomedov doesn’t stay stuck in one stance either and is extremely difficult to hit. His striking defense is right up there with the best in the 155-pound division. The Russian has fought many ground specialists, which makes his UFC run all the more impressive.

Prior to bouts with Nurmagomedov, his collective of UFC opponents have amassed a 27-14-1-(1) in the UFC. If he is to have a knock against him, it’s that he’s only defeated one opponent in the top 10 of his division, current top contender Rafael dos Anjos.

Unlike Nurmagomedov, Cerrone has been fighting at the apex of the lightweight division for the better part of six years. He has now compiled two, six-fight win streaks in his career and has nearly fought five times in one year, on multiple occasions. The Cowboy, who failed on three occasions to capture lightweight gold in the WEC, is the most impressive we have ever seen him.

Cerrone is just naturally gifted at finishing fights, with either his kickboxing or his jiu-jitsu. Though, as of late, he has put his standup game on full display. He has systematically picked apart men like Jim Miller and Eddie Alvarez before his dispatching of Jury. However, if one wanted to point to his jiu-jitsu as one part of the Cowboy’s game a fighter could exploit, they would be highly mistaken.

Look no further than to his wins over Edson Barboza and Evan Dunham. In both bouts, Cerrone locked in chokes within seconds of a scramble. He has looked just as dominant, if not more, as Nurmagomedov.

What’s stopping him from attaining a title shot are those glimmering losses to the top two men in his division, dos Anjos and the champion Anthony Pettis. Stylistically, the opponents Cerrone has faced have all been dangerous one way or another, whether it be through wrestling, striking and jiu-jitsu. He’s also defeated three, top 10 opponents now in Miller (who at the time was), Alvarez and Jury.

Cerrone may boast more finishes on his current win streak, but both he and Nurmagomedov have extensive UFC resumes to be proud of. Both are well-rounded and would make for an interesting, and highly competitive, No. 1 contender fight.

The pair have dominated fights and shut down the best in the world. All that’s left to figure out is who can beat the other, and that’s something that is in the best interest of both parties.

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Following UFC 182, Donald Cerrone vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov the Fight to Make

Donald Cerrone is clearly on a tear within the Ultimate Fighting Championship. At UFC 182, he dominated Myles Jury to earn his sixth straight win, dating back to UFC 167 in 2013. With this win, Cerrone has entered a peculiar place where he’s a major draw within the division but just outside the place to demand a title shot. With that in mind, the UFC matchmakers should place him against Khabib Nurmagomedov, with the winner getting the next shot at the title.

Donald Cerrone is one of the most active athletes on the UFC’s roster. His fight on Saturday was his 16th fight since moving to the UFC in 2011. He has put together a very impressive 13-3 record during that run.

Unfortunately for Cerrone, two of those loses come to current lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and recently tapped Rafael dos Anjos, who will fight Pettis at UFC 185 in March (via Sherdog). With that fight being set up, Cerrone now has the opportunity to wait for Nurmagomedov or stay active, which he is prone to doing.

During the post-fight press conference, Cerrone mentioned that he would like to fight at the UFC event planned for Denver, Colorado on February 14.

“Denver, Colorado in a couple of weeks would be pretty cool,” Cerrone said during questioning (video via MMA Fighting).

Yet, from a rankings standpoint, the fight against Nurmagomedov makes the most MMA sense. Nurmagomedov is currently ranked No. 2 within the lightweight division, while Cerrone sits in the No. 4 spot. Gilbert Melendez recently competed for the title and was defeated, which would eliminate him as the only other man ranked above Cerrone to potentially face at this time.

The question is whether or not the UFC can convince “Cowboy” to wait on the sideline instead of trying to cash in more paydays. Nurmagomedov is currently out with a knee injury that he suffered back in June (via MMA Junkie). Recent reports have pushed his return back to February at the earliest (via MMA Fighting). That would mean that Cerrone would have to wait until potentially March or April for his next bout.

Nurmagomedov welcomed the idea of fighting Donald and took to Twitter to express the delight.

He even went further to suggest an exact event where the fight should occur.

Comparatively speaking, Cerrone versus Nurmagomedov would be a compelling stylistic fight. Cerrone has struggled in the past against men who can pressure him and score takedowns. His losses to Rafael dos Anjos and Benson Henderson can be used as examples as to how he has competed against men of a similar style. The question would be whether or not he can stay on his feet against Khabib‘s sambo and overwhelm him with his volume striking.

For Nurmagomedov, the tactics would be to take Cerrone down and control the contest. The status of the fight as a main or co-main event would play into this strategy, as it would be telling to see if Nurmagomedov can do it for 15 minutes as opposed to 25.

Cerrone would have the striking advantage, but Khabib‘s takedowns have been his main weapon since joining the UFC, and it should be expected for him to continue to lean on what has gotten him this far.

Donald Cerrone and Khabib Nurmagomedov are on a direct course to see who will eventually challenge for the lightweight title in 2015. The UFC should convince Cerrone to sit on the sideline for a few months and patiently wait for Nurmagomedov to return from injury.

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