– Paul Dollery reports from Las Vegas
DONALD ‘COWBOY’ CERRONE wants to welcome Conor McGregor to the UFC’s lightweight division and he’d be happy to do it in Dublin.
Cerrone, who’ll aim to become the champion in the UFC’s 155lbs division when he faces reigning title-holder Rafael dos Anjos next weekend, is eager to put manners on McGregor and reap the financial rewards that would go with it.
A rivalry began to develop between McGregor and Cerrone back in September when they exchanged insults at the UFC’s ‘Go Big’ press conference.
McGregor faces Jose Aldo tonight at UFC 194 in a featherweight title unification bout, but with the cut to 145lbs again appearing to take its toll at yesterday’s weigh-ins, ‘The Notorious’ is keen to make the move up to lightweight next year.
McGregor usually has a size advantage at featherweight, but Cerrone believes he’s not big enough to mix it with the top guys in the higher weight-class.
“I’d knock the fucking shit out of that kid,” Cerrone told The42 today in Las Vegas. “He’s too small to come up to 155. His jaw is powerful, for damn sure, but he won’t fare well with the top guys. If they throw him into the top 10, maybe even the top 15, it won’t be good for him.
“But I want that payday. The son of a bitch draws people and he talks well. That would be a huge payday for me. He’s a salesman and he does a really good job of it. I don’t have a personal problem with Conor but if he starts saying personal things to me then we’ll figure it the fuck out. I’ll slap his ass and call him a little schoolgirl.”
McGregor is eager to fight at Croke Park in the near future. When asked if that venue appealed to him for a potential fight with the Dubliner, Cerrone said:
When I started in kickboxing, I went all around the world. I used to love going to places like Japan, Africa, everywhere… I didn’t even get paid that much, I would just do it because I loved the travelling and seeing the world. So fuck yeah I’d go to Ireland. I’d stay over there for two weeks too and show them Irish boys how to drink.”
Cerrone is a popular fighter among Irish fans, but if that takes a hit as his rivalry with McGregor intensifies, it’s a price he’s more than willing to pay.
“You guys have a whole country behind you. I’d want America to back me like that so it’s only right for you guys in Ireland to stand behind your guy,” Cerrone said.
“I’m glad the Irish people are pushing for Conor because that drives our whole sport. He has made leaps and bounds in this sport. Root against me when I fight him, that’s cool. I won’t be upset with y’all.”
