Donald Cerrone could not have scripted a better night than the one he had at UFC Denver on Saturday night.
Cerrone brought a grudge with Mike Perry and his former longtime camp at JacksonWink MMA into the UFC’s 25th anniversary card in Cerrone’s home state of Colorado.
And not only did Cerrone win an exciting co-feature welterweight bout via submission at Pepsi Center, but he broke a pair of records in the process: The victory was his 21st in the UFC, breaking the UFC wins record he shared with Georges St-Pierre and Michael Bisping; and his 15th career finish set that UFC mark, putting him ahead of Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort.
The time of the stoppage for the armbar win was 4:46 of the opening round.
“Most wins in UFC history, baby,” said Cerrone, who brought his family into the cage with him for his postfight interview. “What an honor. I’m so proud, I love you Denver.”
What was expected to be a battle of heavy hitters instead turned into a a bout largely fought in a Greco-Roman clinch, at least until Perry won the leverage battle and turned it into a trip.
From there, the duo changed position several times on the mat, with Perry ending up on top late. But he fell right into the crafty Cerrone’s trap. Cerrone clinched the armbar, rode out a slam, and sunk the armbar in even tighter until he got the tap and his 17th career submission victory.
Cerrone, who said after the fight he wants to go back down to lightweight, is now 34-11-1 and has won two of his past three. Perry (12-4) has dropped three of his past four.
More News
Quiñonero fights Verdadero in Resbak 2
Resbak 2 at Malungon, Sarangani Province on July 12
Garde stops Baliente in 1st round in “Resbak”