Donald Cerrone: UFC lightweight eyes 'great fight' with Conor McGregor, but must beat Rafael Dos Anjos first

As 2015 concludes with three UFC title fights in the space of one week Brian Mallon caught up with Donald Cerrone as he attempts to add his name to the organisation's honours list with Luke Rockhold and Conor McGregor having already secured their place as divisional champions

Donald Cerrone in action against Myles Jury earlier this year (GETTY IMAGES)

The dust is now settling on the watermark UFC194 event. Immediately prior to last weekend's bumper card that saw Conor McGregor beat Jose Aldo the promotion made some of its biggest stars available for interview. Sitting amongst UFC champions such as Fabricio Werdum and "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler one man stood out from the rest simply by his very demeanour. Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone held court in the bowels of the MGM Resort with a devil may care attitude. Not a stranger to expletives and saying it how it is the teak tough Cerrone pulled no punches when explaining exactly where his mind is at ahead of the biggest fight of an action packed career.

"I feel no pressure. It feels like any other fight to me," he said ahead of his rematch with lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos this weekend. "I'm ready man, I feel good. That was two years ago that he beat me. He beat me fair and square, I won't take anything away from the dude. It was a great fight. Let's run it again, here we go."

When asked whether he had given special attention in training camp to drilling takedown defence Cerrone was unequivocal.

"I've definitely been working on that you know. The son of a ***** hit me hard you know what I mean? I didn't know where I was, he took me down and it is what it is so what ya gonna do."

When a potential meeting with McGregor was suggested, Cerrone smiled and stated that he was hoping for a "Notorious" win and a money generating clash down the line.

"I don't dislike the guy, I like him. It would just be a great fight and a great payday".

When asked what 2016 holds following his title tilt in Florida this weekend Cerrone enthused: "I'm hoping for a record breaking title defence here (Las Vegas). I still have the passion for fighting, I (expletive) love it. I love doing it but the paydays are great too, so that makes it even better."

Indeed Cowboy may not need to wait long into the new year to find a date with McGregor is in the offing, if he is successful second time around against current champion Dos Anjos. Cerrone's nemesis is attempting to carve out a title reign of his own following his dominant defeat of Anthony Pettis last time out. This weekend's title bout will be dictated by Cerrone's ability to stuff the takedown of his Brazilian opponent. Dos Anjos has cardio for days and his work is punctuated by seamless transitions, intermixing striking and clinch work. Cerrone has razor sharp stand up and will need to use range and movement to avoid a repeat of their last rodeo. He will have worked diligently on a strategy to impose his style on RDA and ensuring that it isn't a matter of deja vu when it matters most.

I believe that he can be successful to this end. Cerrrone has had ample opportunity to make the tweaks to his game needed to see off Dos Anjos. It will undoubtedly be a fascinating contest. Cerrone should eke out the win and with it secure the big paydays that he believes will define the latter part of his fistic career.

Brian Mallon interviews Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone (Brian Mallon)

The biggest payday in the lower weight classes of the UFC right now is with the man of the moment Conor McGregor. The atmosphere in the MGM and indeed the Las Vegas strip last weekend was simply scintillating. Thousands of Irish descended upon Vegas with 20 per cent of ticket sales coming from Ireland. McGregor has brought the feel good factor back to Irish combat sports. He spoke at the post event press conference of the options now available to him and will spend the Christmas period assessing those same possibilities once the lightweight title fight plays out.

Cerrone and McGregor would make for must see viewing and may well be the fight the UFC seeks to set up in the coming weeks. Whilst Rafael Dos Anjos and one Frankie Edgar may have some thoughts on that McGregor's coach has intimated on this week's MMA Hour to Ariel Helwani that he believes a lightweight title fight will be next followed by a featherweight defence against Frankie Edgar. Either way McGregor appears to have the MMA world at his feet.

"From nothing, to something to everything", that was how the Dubliner described his ascendancy in the UFC's ranks in the immediate aftermath of his destruction of long time lightweight kingpin Jose Aldo. The SBG star's rise has been nothing short of astounding. As described in last week's column.

McGregor has changed the face of Irish MMA and is now in the process of changing the sport by leading its charge into worldwide mainstream acceptance. He is uniquely placed to "change the game" as he puts it. He has again re-iterated that he will be a simultaneous dual title holder in the UFC in the same way that he ruled the Cage warriors featherweight and lightweight divisions with an iron fist. Who are we to doubt him.

Born to fight

Mark Hunt's surge in recent years to become a serious contender in the UFC's heavyweight division has been a joy to behold. The well built but deceptively smooth and skilled striker had been written off by many industry observers and he even had to persuade UFC brass to allow him to fulfil his contract. Hunt however proved many doubters wrong and re-ignited memories from his K1 and Pride FC days with some sublime knockouts over such UFC notables as Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva prior to an ultimately disappointing defeat to Fabricio Werdum for the organisation's heavyweight strap late last year.

What many may not have been aware about Hunt however was his harrowing upbringing and battle against all odds to prosper on the world stage in combat sports. Hunt has laid bare his tough, emotional journey in a new book. His story is well worth a read and may be a potential Christmas present for any MMA fans out there. "Born to Fight" written by Mark Hunt and Ben McKelvey is available to buy now.