Donald Cerrone Defends Robbie Lawler Over UFC 205 Scratch
Donald Cerrone Defends Robbie Lawler Over UFC 205 Scratch
Fans were beside themselves this weekend when news came out that UFC 205 would no longer feature Donald Cerrone versus Robbie Lawler on November 12.When Law
Fans were beside themselves this weekend when news came out that UFC 205 would no longer feature Donald Cerrone versus Robbie Lawler on November 12.
When Lawler was cited as the one who pulled out of the fight, Cerrone spoke to reporters this weekend at UFC 203 about the news and his disappointment.
"Robbie came to me," Cerrone said. "First, he called me and said, 'We need to talk; I want to tell you something.' I met him at the Metropolitan 9, and we had a beer right there and he came over and told me, face-to-face, man-to-man, that this fight isn't happening. I was like, 'What you talking about?' He said, 'This fight isn't going to happen--I'm not going to do it.'
"I said, 'But it's Madison Square Garden,' and this like, little piece of fan inside of me died. Damn, that was a fight I would've loved to have watched, you know. It sucked, but he said he had some sh*t going on and that he wanted to heal up from the knockout he'd just had. I can't make him fight, so I was just like 'Sh*t, thanks for giving me nine weeks to find someone else--hopefully."
Despite being disappointed by the cancellation, Cerrone was quick to defend Lawler.
"He's still a friend of mine," Cerrone said. "He's one of the good guys, man. Something must be off, because Robbie isn't a guy that just doesn't show up to fight. He's one of the last dying breeds. Something must really be an issue, and I don't know what it is."
Cerrone also insisted he's still focused on finding an opponent, and didn't want to miss out on the special occasion of the UFC's first-ever show in the state. Cerrone also hinted at a plan where he could get two fights in before the end of the year.
"F*ck yeah, what do you mean--yeah," Cerrone said when asked whether he still wanted to fight on the card. "I wanted to fight tonight. I don't think they know [who he will fight], it all happened so quick. I don't know what's going to happen. I guess I should start rallying for Eddie Alvarez again.
"I'll fight anybody--I really don't care, to be honest with you. It was big fight. I'm disappointed, but I just want to fight out there and have a good time. I'll tell Dana I'll fight anybody, it doesn't matter to me. Maybe then I can fight UFC 207 before the end of the year before we close this mother*****r out. Seven weeks apart, that'll be alright."
In typical Cerrone fashion, he welcomed any challenges, including George St-Pierre, who is rumored to be returning before the end of the year.
"Sure, f*ck yeah, why not?" Cerrone responded when asked if a fight with GSP interested him. "I don't know if he's ready, but if can be ready by then absolutely. I'd love to fight to GSP--f*ck yeah--anybody."
Cerrone wasn't joking when he said anybody -- shortly after, he said a fight with both Diaz brothers would also be welcome.
"F*ck yeah, why not?" Cerrone said when asked if Nick Diaz would be a good fight to make. "I think Nate's waiting to fight Conor again right. Either one though, sure. Absolutely, I'd love to."
Cerrone also said he was interested in moving down to lightweight to face Eddie Alvarez. He said he understood why Alvarez was angling for McGregor, but he didn't know why the promotion was now adamant that he should now stay at 170 pounds.
"As long as it's for the belt," Cerrone said. "I don't know why I can't do both. It's funny -- whenever I was at '55, I called and said, 'I'd take a fight at 170 pounds if someone fell out,' but they always said those 170-pounders were too big and strong for me. Now, I'm at '70, and want to go back to '55, they say, 'No you look real good at 170--you stay there.' I don't know what the f*ck they are going to do."
When Lawler was cited as the one who pulled out of the fight, Cerrone spoke to reporters this weekend at UFC 203 about the news and his disappointment.
"Robbie came to me," Cerrone said. "First, he called me and said, 'We need to talk; I want to tell you something.' I met him at the Metropolitan 9, and we had a beer right there and he came over and told me, face-to-face, man-to-man, that this fight isn't happening. I was like, 'What you talking about?' He said, 'This fight isn't going to happen--I'm not going to do it.'
"I said, 'But it's Madison Square Garden,' and this like, little piece of fan inside of me died. Damn, that was a fight I would've loved to have watched, you know. It sucked, but he said he had some sh*t going on and that he wanted to heal up from the knockout he'd just had. I can't make him fight, so I was just like 'Sh*t, thanks for giving me nine weeks to find someone else--hopefully."
Despite being disappointed by the cancellation, Cerrone was quick to defend Lawler.
"He's still a friend of mine," Cerrone said. "He's one of the good guys, man. Something must be off, because Robbie isn't a guy that just doesn't show up to fight. He's one of the last dying breeds. Something must really be an issue, and I don't know what it is."
Cerrone also insisted he's still focused on finding an opponent, and didn't want to miss out on the special occasion of the UFC's first-ever show in the state. Cerrone also hinted at a plan where he could get two fights in before the end of the year.
"F*ck yeah, what do you mean--yeah," Cerrone said when asked whether he still wanted to fight on the card. "I wanted to fight tonight. I don't think they know [who he will fight], it all happened so quick. I don't know what's going to happen. I guess I should start rallying for Eddie Alvarez again.
"I'll fight anybody--I really don't care, to be honest with you. It was big fight. I'm disappointed, but I just want to fight out there and have a good time. I'll tell Dana I'll fight anybody, it doesn't matter to me. Maybe then I can fight UFC 207 before the end of the year before we close this mother*****r out. Seven weeks apart, that'll be alright."
In typical Cerrone fashion, he welcomed any challenges, including George St-Pierre, who is rumored to be returning before the end of the year.
"Sure, f*ck yeah, why not?" Cerrone responded when asked if a fight with GSP interested him. "I don't know if he's ready, but if can be ready by then absolutely. I'd love to fight to GSP--f*ck yeah--anybody."
Cerrone wasn't joking when he said anybody -- shortly after, he said a fight with both Diaz brothers would also be welcome.
"F*ck yeah, why not?" Cerrone said when asked if Nick Diaz would be a good fight to make. "I think Nate's waiting to fight Conor again right. Either one though, sure. Absolutely, I'd love to."
Cerrone also said he was interested in moving down to lightweight to face Eddie Alvarez. He said he understood why Alvarez was angling for McGregor, but he didn't know why the promotion was now adamant that he should now stay at 170 pounds.
"As long as it's for the belt," Cerrone said. "I don't know why I can't do both. It's funny -- whenever I was at '55, I called and said, 'I'd take a fight at 170 pounds if someone fell out,' but they always said those 170-pounders were too big and strong for me. Now, I'm at '70, and want to go back to '55, they say, 'No you look real good at 170--you stay there.' I don't know what the f*ck they are going to do."