Donald Cerrone

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1 Profile
2 Early Career
3 WEC
4 Mixed martial arts record
5 Gallery
6 External links

Profile

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (born March 29, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist training out of acclaimed trainer Greg Jackson's, Jackson's Submission Fighting gym.

He stands 6 ft. 0 in. (183 cm) tall and fights in the lightweight division (155 lbs.).

Cerrone is a former WEC title challenger and currently fights for the WEC as a lightweight competitor.

Early Career

Donald Cerrone made his professional mixed martial arts debut for the Ring of Fire promotion, on February 11, 2006 defeating future UFC competitor, Nate Mohr via triangle choke submission in the first round.

Cerrone fought three more times in 2006, winning each bout by way of submission with none of three escaping the second round.

At Ring of Fire 28 in February of 2007, Cerrone submitted another future UFC competitor in Ryan Roberts via armbar in just under two minutes of the first round.

Cerrone followed that victory with successive triangle choke submission wins over future WEC competitor, Anthony Njokuani and Japanese fighter, Yasunori Kanehara.

WEC

Cerrone's seven successive submission wins to start his career earned him a contract with the Zuffa controlled, World Extreme Cagefighting organization. He made his WEC debut at WEC 30 on September 5, 2007 against Kenneth Alexander. Initially the result of the fight was a 56 second triangle choke submission win for Cerrone but after he tested positive for a banned diuretic after the bout, the Nevada State Athletic Commission changed the bout to a "No Contest" and fined Cerrone $2,400 and suspended him for 8 months.

Cerrone got back in action in June of 2008, where he picked up where he had left off as he submitted Danny Castillo with an armbar in the first round at WEC 34.

The win earned Cerrone a No.1 contenders match-up against former WEC lightweight champion, Rob McCullough. The bout took place at WEC 36 and in a Fight of the Year candidate Cerrone prevailed via unanimous decision after three rounds to earn a shot at the WEC lightweight championship held by Jamie Varner.

Cerrone was granted his shot at WEC 38 on January 25, 2009. The bout was as controversial as it was exciting as both fighters traded positions on the ground and punches on the feet furiously for the first four rounds. In the fifth round an illegal knee from Cerrone to the grounded Varner grazed the champion's eye. Varner was unable to continue and the fight was halted at the 1:38 mark. Due to the unintentional blow the fight went to the judges for a decision. The judges returned scores of 49-46, 47-48, 49-46 to award Varner the technical split decision victory and the second defense of his title.

"Cowboy" will next return at WEC 41 when he faces UFC veteran, Rich Crunkilton.