After scrapped UFC 205 bout, Donald Cerrone says Demian Maia 'only fight that makes sense'

NEW YORK – Donald Cerrone is upset, not surprisingly, after his UFC 205 bout with Kelvin Gastelum was scrapped just one day prior to the event because Gastelum couldn’t make weight.

After Cerrone (31-7 MMA, 18-4 UFC) tipped the scale within the appropriate range for his welterweight contest, he returned to the weigh-in area soon after and informed the media in attendance that Gastelum (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was significantly overweight.

As many would expect, Cerrone wanted to fight regardless, but the rules of the New York State Athletic Commission, which serves as the sanctioning body for the event at Madison Square Garden, state there can’t be more than a five-pound weight discrepancy between athletes if such a situation occurs for a 170-pound fight.

Gastelum didn’t even weigh in, pulling himself from the fight over social media. That left Cerrone in a state of frustration, to put it lightly.

“I’m about $150,000 worth of pissed off,” Cerrone told MMAjunkie. “I don’t know why (he missed weight). I don’t know.”

UFC officials announced Cerrone will be paid his show money for the card.

Gastelum, No. 14 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, was the second opponent Cerrone was scheduled to fight at UFC 205. He originally was pitted against former 170-pound champ Robbie Lawler, but when that fight fell apart, he was matched against Gastelum.

Now No. 14-ranked Cerrone won’t fight at all, and while it was difficult for him to look ahead given the freshness of the situation, he targeted a bout with No. 5-ranked Demian Maia (24-6 MMA, 18-6 UFC) going forward.

“The only fight that makes sense to me is Demian Maia just because he’s coming off a good fight, he’s not injured and it would be a good turnaround for me,” Cerrone said. “(I want to fight) as soon as possible. I have no idea. No clue.”

Cerrone has became famous for his no-nonsense attitude toward fighting and his willingness to fight any time, anywhere and against any opponent. There are two UFC cards next weekend – one in Northern Ireland and another in Brazil. What comes next is uncertain, but he definitely won’t be fighting in Belfast.

“Oh, no,” Cerrone said. “(Expletive) those Irish mother(expletives).”

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.