UFC on Fuel TV 3 results: Cowboy makes a comeback as Donald Cerrone defeats Jeremy Stephens by decision
Posted on May 15, 2012, 09:25 PM by Mike Searson
Whenever two fighters face each other after a loss, the consolation is that one is going home with a win. That man tonight was Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone who won by Unanimous Decision (30-27) against Jeremy "lil heathen" Stephens on the main card of UFC on Fuel TV 3 in Fairfax, Virginia.
The first round was a slow starter with both fighters exchanging a few low kicks at each other with Cerrone keeping Stephens on the outside. It came alive in the final minutes with Cerrone throwing a total of 18 kicks at his opponent.
In round 2, Cerrone picked up the pace launching kicks, spinning elbows and knees at Stephens. By the midpoint of the round, Cerrone had landed 51 strikes over Stephens' 20 including a nasty uppercut to Stephens' left eye. In the final 25 seconds of the round, Cerrone went for a takedown and Stephens heeled the back of Cerrone's head.
In the third and final round, Stephens' left eye looked bloody and the back of Cerrone's head was cut. An inside kick by Cerrone hit Stephens in the cup, stopping the fight while he recovered. Stephens attempted a comeback later in the third to no avail; Cerrone outranged him and dominated the fight from the beginning.
"I want to get on that Denver card. I don't care who I fight.", said the Colorado native with regard to UFC 150, which will be held in Denver, "It feels good coming off that last loss."
Comments
come on
Cowboy looked great but seemed really different. He normally comes in mean mugging and fights fierce. As long as he can control that emotion I think he makes him better, he did it in the Siver fight.
Even if Cerrone is going to be more calm from now on he still looked amazing and I reckon he'll fight for the title this year.
Since Cerrone wants on the Denver card, what about him vs. Pettis for #1 contender after Diaz? Makes sense and that would be one insane match-up
Definitely seemed more disciplined and calculating this time out, like watching a different fighter.
Who the hell is smith?
The Cowboy delivers again
he is one of the best 155 fighters in the world
he even beat Jeremy worse than Pettis did.
we might get Cerrone vs Henderson III this year
i still believe Cerrone won their first fight
and also he could had defeat Diaz if he had jump
to the ground after all those leg kicks takedowns
but doesnt matter cuz he got this 2012 to break
hell on the UFC again for at least another 3 fights if not 4
cowboy never fought his fight against diaz, he will have a title shot soon enough
Awesome striking by the cowboy.... Yet Nate Diaz would whoop his ass any day of the week... Twice on a 209 Sunday... I say give him Pettis... You can like it, or you can weak it....
Wow, that was an amazing display of tecnique, the best Cerrone that ever steped into a cage, if he is calm and confident, there is no one he can't beat. He was light on his feet and accurate like a sniper, in the Diaz fight he was almost not moving at all, not saying that Nate beat him, but it was not the same fighter that night.
Diaz deserves more credit.....
I am seeing too many "Cowboy had an off night against Diaz" comments, on here and other sites. Diaz' boxing is on another level, and he picked Cerrone apart. Then he went on to sub a fighter (J. Miller) who had never been finished. That's not to say that Cerrone does not have great stand up, just that Diaz is better, standing and on the ground. Cerrone had REACH on Stephens, which means a lot when you are a decent striker. Cerrone did not have reach on Diaz. Stephens is a mid-level brawler with power, but not much else.
A Pettis/Cerrone fight would be a great match up.
I am seeing too many Nate Diaz is on another level comments.
How does everyone forget Diaz getting OWNED by Rory MacDonald last year? Don't give me this, Diaz was too small crap, because if you see the fight again--they are close to the same size. MacDonald is barely top ten in the WW division--and after his second defeat--Nate ran back to LW.
Nate has done well at LW, I give him due credit--but I do not see this 'other level' band wagoners keep trying to push. I think Cerrone could have taken Nate if he had any kind of ground game--but he refused to jump into Nate's guard. MacDonald jumped into Nate's guard and pounded his face into the mat--so Nate is by no means invincible on the ground.
Agreed. Personally, I don't think Cerrone has the game to take Nate as he's not as powerful as Macdonald on the ground. However, I think if Miller had used any type of decent gameplan the fight could have gone completely different.
Evan you might want to watch that fight again. Miller had Nate against the cage many times trying to get a takedown and it wasnt happening. Nates learned to grab a leg when pushed against the cage and prevent the take down.
No, no need. He had him up against the fence once. He tried for one takedown while he was there. He shot against after Nate rocked him, then got taken down. Those were his only two take down attempts of the fight.
You'll realize who I am after a while Evan,,,,,,,,Round 1...against cage@4:09..... again against cage@1:35...........Miller gets rocked goes for takedown more in center of cage attempt@:40 sec left.....Round 2...1:05 attempt more center of cage, which Diaz then grabs his neck and its all over. If it went more than 2 rounds, Im sure you would see even more but it didnt....you might read my original reply again it wasnt once. Though you have no need
Nate had him against the cage more than Miller did for sure, controlling the wrestler.
I realize who you are entitty, you need no introduction 8). So I was off by 1 time against the fence, but had everything else correct (with the second time against the fence being initiated by Nate).
That still changes nothing about the way Miller fought him. Miller supposedly went for 4 takedown attempts in those two lock ups against the cage. He shot one forced takedown off the cage at the end of the fight, and the other half hearted one after he got rocked. That's not the way to fight Nate. Takedowns against him have always come from getting him to engage, then locking up the body or shooting low singles or blast doubles then creating a scramble. It works well because he instinctively goes to his back from those positions looking for guard.
Instead Miller tried to strike with him for 80-85% of the fight, and then looked to muscle him down against the cage. It was like him and his coaches never even watched losses to Stevenson, Guida, and Macdonald.
Nate fought great, even if Miller would have fought a smarter fight he would have had a tough time holding Diaz off and probably would have either lost a decision or got stopped later on. But the way he fought him didn't do his end result any favors.
Close to the same size? do you need glasses? Nate took every bomb Rory had to throw and Nate didnt go out and he didn't tap out. He was clearly not even close to the same strength as Rory Macdonald. Why do you think he moved back to lightweight you dullard. No one at lightweight could possibly hurt Nate as bad as Rory did. Since that loss to Rory Nate has been on another level, being the first person to submit jim miller a top 5 lightweight, also dominating Donald cerrone something we havent really seen anyone do, and submitting takanori gomi... Compared to previous 3 fights this is clearly another level for Nate Diaz's all around ability.
I Agree with you ripstic5021... Sharp...
Like I said, no one will give nate credit until hes wearing the belt at LW and even then they will have excuses why he won. And yes we've all seen the people bashing Nate bring up the Rory fight. Hes just pissed Nate owned Cerrone. Both the Diaz's don't ever get their credit. I've watch both of them since they both started. Its always the same old song and hate. Keep on keepin on, Nate will take that LW belt and they'll be praying for the day he loses it lol.
I think your an idiot for comparing the Rory fight, to the Cerrone fight... 2 different weight classes, and 2 different styles... I think you are just trying to find a way to hate on Nate for no reason. And I think that ridiculous unicorn picture is also making you look gay... Yet that's what I think... It called opinions... People believe Nate would whoop Cerrone again because he did it once and did it good.. So live with it...
looooool @ "And I think that ridiculous unicorn picture is also making you look gay... "
Nate is getting better every fight. Nate and Donald both learned from that fight. The majority of Cerrone's game is kicking. His striking is just better than average. Nate would whoop his azz again and again. Nate learns from every fight and keeps moving to the next level. He pushes other fighters so hard they have no chance to implement their take time and pick shots game. Cowboy was simply out classed by Nate and will be next time as well. This "not the same fighter crap is lame" You'll always look great against someone who isnt at your skill level. Im sure if Cerrone beat another 10 less skilled fighters everyone would be all over his nuts like Im seeing here.
Cerrone should get the winner of the guida maynard humpfest for a number one contender spot after Nate gets his.