‘Cowboy’ said he would fight anyone, anywhere at anytime. The UFC were paying attention.
Cerrone, who lost his lightweight title fight against Rafael Dos Anjos on December 19, has been announced in the main event for UFC Fight Night 82.
The 32-year-old will move up to welterweight for a crack off Tim Means at the Pittsburgh event. It will be his first professional bout at 170lbs.
Cerrone came into his title encounter with RDA on the back of an eight-fight win streak.
He claimed that the lightweight belt held little attraction for him – he just wanted the big fights against the huge names.
A Cerrone win would have teed him up for a mega-money fight with Conor McGregor, something he spoke openly about in recent months.
At October’s ‘Go Big’ event, McGregor talked about moving up to lightweight after defeating Jose Aldo, which he did, and fighting the winner of Dos Anjos vs Cerrone. He declared:
“When you sign to fight me, you ring home and say ‘Baby we’ve done it. We’re rich baby. Conor McGregor made us rich. Break out the red panties. We’e rich baby.”
Unfortunately for Cerrone, he was dismantled within 66 seconds by the Brazilian. Instead of being involved in a sell-out gate and huge pay-per-view, such as UFC 198, the Colorado native must now prepare for Means.
Means moved up from lightweight in 2013 and has won five of his last six fights, including a second-round KO of John Howard last month.
Cody Garbrandt, who rushed McGregor during filming of The Ultimate Fighter, is also signed up for Fight Night 82. He will face John Lineker.
