Donald Cerrone: 'Conor McGregor Turned Down Two Fights with Me'
Donald Cerrone: 'Conor McGregor Turned Down Two Fights with Me'
Donald Cerrone claims Conor McGregor and his team turned down two fights with him. Read Cowboy's full comments here.
Donald Cerrone lives his life to the fullest and does so with a smile on his face. When Conor McGregor becomes the topic of conversation "Cowboy's" demeanor hits a different gear.
This was never more apparent than during a recent appearance on the Norton & Friends show, which just so happened to be one day removed from the UFC 205 press conference where fans saw McGregor hold court in front of fans, media and fellow fighters.
"I get annoyed when [McGregor] wants to talk about (how) he's the 'best in the world and I'll fight anybody' blah blah blah, but when it comes time, like, there's a lot that people don't know about, right?" said Cerrone. "(It's) behind the scenes stuff, but I know. I knew he's like, 'Yeah, no no no no,' (to a fight with me) 'cause we were trying. And I didn't even want to negotiate more money. I said, 'F**k you, let's go. I'll fight you for whatever.'
"This dude, (it's the) same thing like last night: He's good when cameras are on talking sh*t. You get him in the back, he don't say nothing. F**k no. I've been in the back many times with him."
Cerrone (30-7) has yet to taste defeat since making the jump up to 170 pounds. In his most recent fight, the Jackson-Winkeljohn product finished veteran Rick Story at UFC 202. This marked the third straight stoppage win for Cerrone. He previously submitted Alex Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 83 and scored a violent TKO over Patrick Cote at UFC Fight Night 89.
Jun 18, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Donald Cerrone (red gloves) reacts after his welterweight bout against Patrick Cote (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at TD Place Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Famously living up to his nickname, Cerrone has become one of the most beloved fighters on the UFC roster for seemingly taking fights without inquiring who, when, or where. With this in mind, Cerrone revealed the UFC actually offered him a fight against McGregor, not once, but twice.
"Last night [at the UFC 205 press conference] I was going to get on the horn and start getting after him, but I decided not to because you talk about him, he… two times I had the obligation to fight him and he turned it down and took the easier fight," said Cerrone.
"When he fought Diaz for the first time [at UFC 196], I just fought. So it was Sunday, I was flying home, Dana calls and asked me if I'd like to fight Conor, and that was for the (first Diaz) fight. He declined me and took Diaz 'cause Diaz was in Mexico, you know, (he) took the fight on 10 days notice or whatever. But why would he want to fight me coming off a win? So yeah, my name was in the hat. Conor and his people didn't pick me."
Cerrone is expected to challenge Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 205 Nov. 12 in Madison Square Garden. This event will mark the UFC's first event in the state of New York since the ban on MMA was lifted in March. He will enter the bout with 23 career stoppage wins, including 16 by way of submission.
This was never more apparent than during a recent appearance on the Norton & Friends show, which just so happened to be one day removed from the UFC 205 press conference where fans saw McGregor hold court in front of fans, media and fellow fighters.
"I get annoyed when [McGregor] wants to talk about (how) he's the 'best in the world and I'll fight anybody' blah blah blah, but when it comes time, like, there's a lot that people don't know about, right?" said Cerrone. "(It's) behind the scenes stuff, but I know. I knew he's like, 'Yeah, no no no no,' (to a fight with me) 'cause we were trying. And I didn't even want to negotiate more money. I said, 'F**k you, let's go. I'll fight you for whatever.'
"This dude, (it's the) same thing like last night: He's good when cameras are on talking sh*t. You get him in the back, he don't say nothing. F**k no. I've been in the back many times with him."
Cerrone (30-7) has yet to taste defeat since making the jump up to 170 pounds. In his most recent fight, the Jackson-Winkeljohn product finished veteran Rick Story at UFC 202. This marked the third straight stoppage win for Cerrone. He previously submitted Alex Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 83 and scored a violent TKO over Patrick Cote at UFC Fight Night 89.
Jun 18, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Donald Cerrone (red gloves) reacts after his welterweight bout against Patrick Cote (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at TD Place Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Famously living up to his nickname, Cerrone has become one of the most beloved fighters on the UFC roster for seemingly taking fights without inquiring who, when, or where. With this in mind, Cerrone revealed the UFC actually offered him a fight against McGregor, not once, but twice.
"Last night [at the UFC 205 press conference] I was going to get on the horn and start getting after him, but I decided not to because you talk about him, he… two times I had the obligation to fight him and he turned it down and took the easier fight," said Cerrone.
"When he fought Diaz for the first time [at UFC 196], I just fought. So it was Sunday, I was flying home, Dana calls and asked me if I'd like to fight Conor, and that was for the (first Diaz) fight. He declined me and took Diaz 'cause Diaz was in Mexico, you know, (he) took the fight on 10 days notice or whatever. But why would he want to fight me coming off a win? So yeah, my name was in the hat. Conor and his people didn't pick me."
Cerrone is expected to challenge Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 205 Nov. 12 in Madison Square Garden. This event will mark the UFC's first event in the state of New York since the ban on MMA was lifted in March. He will enter the bout with 23 career stoppage wins, including 16 by way of submission.