GLENDALE, Ariz. – Donald Cerrone picked up a quality win against a notable opponent, but following the WEC 53 performance, he wasn’t exactly in a celebratory mood.
Cerrone (13-3 MMA 5-3 WEC), a five-time “Fight of the Night” winner with the WEC, saw plenty of problems in his second-round submission win over Chris Horodecki (16-3 MMA, 2-2 WEC).
More specifically, he wanted to beat the former kickboxer at his own game.
The fight was one of four that aired on Versus from Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz. It was the final WEC show before the organization’s merger with its sister promotion, the UFC. With roster spots at a premium, it was important for Cerrone and other fighters to make a good impression in the WEC’s final show.
Despite the win, Cerrone wasn’t pleased.
“I wanted to come out there, and I’m striker,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
“That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to beat him at his own game. I got the win, so I can’t complain … (but) a couple of things I did wrong I need to go back and look at – see why I couldn’t finish the triangle in speedy fashion – and figure out what I need to do to get to go where I can pull the trigger and get off first.”
The ground battle that set up the eventual triangle choke wasn’t exactly set up by a takedown. The fighters scrambled for position and fell to the mat, where Cerrone methodically but successfully transitioned from an omoplata to the triangle choke.
But he’s still bothered by his striking in the fight. Despite a sizable height and reach advantage, Cerrone just couldn’t put together the combos he wanted.
“I couldn’t get going,” he said. “He pushed forward and did what he needed to do. In the gym, I have no problem getting going and putting combinations together. In the fight, I just can’t seem to put them together. That’s something I need to work on.
“My wrestling, I feel, is coming along, and that’s something I’ve really been working on. I guess I need to go back and start working on my striking again.”
Following his win, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter made no secret of whom he wants in his UFC debut.
“Cole Miller is the guy I’m chasing down,” he said. “That’s the fight I want. It’s a fight I’ve wanted since as long as I can remember.”
So, what exactly prompted the bad blood? Cerrone said he simply wants to avenge a teammate’s loss, and he’s waited years to do it.
“He beat Leonard Garcia about three-and-a-half years ago (at UFC Fight Night 11),” Cerrone said. “I was there. I was the young one there and had only had about five fights. I remember Cole was kind of – well, I was like, ‘Alright, mother [expletive], I got you.'”
For the latest on WEC 53, stay tuned to the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
