UFC on FOX 10 winner 'Cowboy' Cerrone wants six fights in 2014

CHICAGO – Donald Cerrone really didn’t feel like talking much leading up to Saturday’s fight, but that apparently was water under the bridge after UFC on FOX 10.

Cerrone (22-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC) stopped Adriano Martins (25-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) with a first-round head kick, winning “Knockout of the Night” honors to become the new all-time leader for Zuffa bonus awards with 13, passing Anderson Silva and Joe Lauzon.

As usual, “Cowboy” predicted before the event he’d take home another $50,000 bonus check. And as usual, he told MMAjunkie that his devil-may-care attitude outside the octagon meant that $50,000 was already spent before he could cash the check.

“Like a fart in the wind – it’s gone,” Cerrone told MMAjunkie on Saturday night after his win over Martins at Chicago’s United Center. Cerrone said Cabela’s would get most of that money, likely on more big-ticket toys to support his famous love of outdoor sporting pursuits like speed boating and jet skiing.

But Cerrone said he’s got another UFC record in mind right after taking out Martins. He fought four times in 2013, going 2-2. But he wants that number to go up in 2014 in his pursuit of a shot at the lightweight title.

“I want to set the record for the most fights in a year, so if I get six this year, it would be f—ing great,” he told MMAjunkie. “There are fighters out there who say they can’t get fights? Hey, man, I’m your guy.”

Sitting near him at UFC on FOX 10's post-event news conference was lightweight main-event winner Benson Henderson, who owns two wins over Cerrone in the WEC. The two talked about the likelihood they’ll be matched up again, and it’s a fight both seem to be in favor of.

But Cerrone will take anyone, at this point. He said back-to-back stoppage wins over Evan Dunham, which earned him “Submission of the Night” at UFC 167, and his bonus-winner over Martins on Saturday have him loving the sport again.

“I had to just figure out why I do this again,” he said. “I got really comfortable. I made more money than I’ve ever made in my whole life, and I would just buy everything. I got really comfortable with where I was and I forgot the love that I did this for. I remember kickboxing around the world for $1,500. ‘$1,500? Are you kidding me? To go to Japan? Yeah!’

“I lost the love, but I’m back. I’m back. I feel good.”

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 10, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.