Donald Cerrone landed yet another post-fight bonus. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Donald Cerrone’s right leg was the shining star at UFC on Fox 10 on Saturday in Chicago.
Oddsmakers had the fight fairly even, which was understandable from a high-level overview. The two lightweights had about the same amount of professional experience, with Martins actually possessing more career wins (25) than Cerrone (21).
Martins was impressive his last time out, submitting Daron Cruickshank with a straight armbar, but he was clearly outclassed against “Cowboy.” Cerrone took a surgical approach to picking him apart, using a varied striking attack with his hands and feet. As time wound down in the first round, Cerrone used two shots to the body to set up his final blow -- which he delivered to Martins’ neck. As his opponent dropped to the canvas, Cerrone lunged downward. Seeing Martins was already out, he refrained from giving him an additional punch, a la Dan Henderson on Michael Bisping at UFC 100.
“I’m back. I feel good,” Cerrone said before turning his attention to ambitious future plans. “I want to set a record for most fights in a year, so if I can get six, that’s [expletive] great. [To] some of those guys out there who said they can’t get fights, hey man, I’m your guy.”
With that said, he did not share the same enthusiasm for a hypothetical matchup with American Top Team’s Cole Miller, who called out Cerrone after submitting Sam Sicilia at UFC Fight Night 35 on Jan. 15.
“Miller is a turd the UFC hasn’t flushed yet,” he said. “Cole Miller, win some fights and then come see me.”
One final note on Cerrone: He featured a Budweiser patch on his shorts and on a vinyl sign used during introductions. While the Bud Light brand has been plastered all over Ultimate Fighting Championship events for years, this is believed to be the first time Budweiser has been advertised on a fighter’s shorts.
Winning Without Winning
Photo: Sherdog.com
“Smooth” offered no apologies.
However, there is still a case to be made that the wrong guy won. As usual, it all depends on what one looks for while watching a fight.
Coming into the bout, Thomson had more to lose than his opponent, as he had already earned a title shot against champion Anthony Pettis. Rather than sit on the sidelines and wait for “Showtime” to recover from a knee injury, Thomson went Chuck Liddell on the division and said he was willing to fight anyone. Enter Henderson.
It may have looked good on paper, but it was hardly a thrilling fight. Thomson broke his right thumb early in the match, and it limited his ability to strike effectively or grapple efficiently. Still, he took it to Henderson for most of the fight. In fact, the only round Henderson won cleanly was the third. Thomson equaled his counterpart’s takedown total and achieved dominant positions more consistently over five rounds.
Never one to mince words, UFC President Dana White did not sound impressed with Henderson’s latest win.
“He’s a grinder,” White said. “He’s not a finisher.”
Still, Henderson was not about to apologize for squeaking by on the scorecards. “Getting a W in the UFC? Let’s see how you take it,” Henderson quipped at the post-fight press conference. “I like Ws. I like getting my hand raised, and I’ll take it any way I can get it: you slip on a banana peel, by the skin of my teeth, by any means.”
Yet, it was not the kind of performance that will have fans clamoring to see Henderson in another title fight with Pettis, who has already beaten him twice.
Miscellaneous Debris
Photo: D. Mandel
Caceres was no stepping stone.