As far as epic feuds go, Saturday’s fight between Donald Cerrone and Jorge Masvidal probably isn’t going to make the all-time list.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a little bad blood between the welterweights going into UFC on FOX 23. There were Twitter callouts and there’s been a little trash talk. But on Wednesday, the fighters gave FS1’s “UFC Tonight” the reason behind the beef.
Cerrone (32-7 MMA, 19-4 UFC) and Masvidal (31-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) are the co-main event of UFC on FOX 23, which takes place Saturday at Denver’s Pepsi Center. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass. The winner should be in prime position in the 170-pound title picture.
“I guess I’ve taken a couple of his opponents, but it’s not my fault,” Cerrone told the show. “When the UFC is looking to take a fight with me, or a last-minute replacement, his name isn’t in the raffle to come up. I have no control over that. His last two times, they took his opponent and gave him to me. Maybe you need to win more fights and get higher up in the rankings – I don’t know. The only reason you have this fight is because you were calling me out. So yeah, I called (UFC President) Dana (White) and had to give your name – like, ‘Let me have the Masvidal fight. Let me have the Masvidal fight.’ So, you’re welcome. At least you get half your paycheck.”
And Masvidal backed up that story when hosts Daniel Cormier, Kenny Florian and Miesha Tate talked to him.
“‘Cowboy’ took food from my plate twice,” Masvidal said. “Twice, I had two bout agreements against top-ranked opponents. For some reason, they didn’t materialize and they ended up giving it to ‘Cowboy.’ Imagine you’re going to fight a top-ranked opponent and he gets swiped from you and given to somebody else. I wanted to hurt somebody, and not I get to hurt somebody and that somebody is ‘Cowboy,’ and he’s got to pay with interest.”
Cerrone is ranked No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings. Masvidal is unranked, though on the UFC’s official list he’s No. 12 to Cerrone’s No. 5.
And each of them believes the winner will be in a good spot in the welterweight title picture. On March 4, champion Tyron Woodley rematches Stephen Thompson in the UFC 209 main event. The two fought to a majority draw at UFC 205 in November.
But Cerrone said he plans on beating Masvidal, and then in true “Cowboy fashion,” getting right back to work. He doesn’t intend to sit back and wait for the Woodley-Thompson winner.
“We’re talking this one, and then I have to sit around and wait for those guys on (March) 4 to win and sit around and think about when they want to take another fight,” Cerrone said. “So I think I’ll just go ahead and fight March 4 with them and maybe get Robbie (Lawler) or Demian Maia or somebody and get a title-contention fight then.”
Masvidal would have a three-fight winning streak with a victory over Cerrone. And while he’s currently just 3-3 in his past six fights, the three losses all have been by split decision.
“One step closer to that title,” Masvidal said of a potential win over Cerrone. “That’s all I chase. I’ll never be able to sleep at night until I get that title. As long as I’m here and my heart’s beating, that’s my one goal is to get that title.”
For more from Cerrone and Masvidal, check out the videos above.
And for more on UFC on FOX 23, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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