From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donald Cerrone (born March 29, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was featured on the Versus television series TapouT, where he was sponsored before his fight with Anthony Njokuani. Cerrone won the fight in the first round with a triangle choke.

Biography and career

Donald started his career in Commerce City, Colorado at a gym called Freedom Fighters, winning his first 25 Muay Thai bouts. Cerrone began training with Rashad Evans, Nathan Marquardt, Keith Jardine, Georges St. Pierre, Leonard Garcia and other skilled MMA fighters at Greg Jackson's Submission Fighting Gaidojutsu school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cerrone was signed to fight in the WEC. His first fight in the promotion was against Kenneth Alexander. Originally a win via submission in 0:54 seconds of the first round, the decision was changed to a no contest when Cerrone tested positive for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide.^[1] He returned to the WEC nine months later, defeating hometown favorite Danny Castillo via submission at 1:30 of the first round.

At WEC 38 he fought WEC lightweight champion, Jamie Varner, for the abovementioned title, losing via technical split decision. He defeated James Krause via rear naked choke on June 7, 2009 at WEC 41. Cerrone and Varner had agreed to a rematch, tenatively at WEC 43, but Varner has yet to be cleared medically from his hand injury. Cerrone fought Ben Henderson for the WEC Interim Lightweight Championship on October 10, 2009 at WEC 43 in San Antonio, Texas^[2], losing by unanimous decision. The fight was awarded Fight of the Year honors by Sherdog for 2009. Cerrone credited Henderson for being "a hell of a fighter" and conceded that he was slow to start the action, which may have cost him the match^[3]. In his most recent fight, Cerrone defeated Ed Ratcliff via third round submission at WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff on December 19, 2009.^[4] The bout also earned Cerrone Fight of the Night honors.

Cerrone is scheduled to face Ben Henderson in a rematch of their 2009 fight of the Year, this time for the WEC Lightweight Championship on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48.^[5]

Cerrone recently bought a new 10 acre ranch and is looking to house several fighters that want to make a career in MMA. He calls it the "TapouT House" and has dedicated an entire wing for fighters wanting to live and train with world class talent.^[6]

Titles and Awards

• 2006 S-1 United States Muay Thai champion
• 2006 Dominion Warrior Light Heavyweight World champion
• Fight of the Night (WEC 36 against Rob McCullough)
• Fight of the Night (WEC 38 against Jamie Varner)
• Fight of the Night (WEC 43 against Ben Henderson)
• Fight of the Night (WEC 45 against Ed Ratcliff)
• Sherdog Fight of the Year for 2009 for his bout with Ben Henderson) [1]

See also

• Muay Thai
• List of male kickboxers
• List of kickboxing organizations

Mixed martial arts record

Result	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
	Ben Henderson		WEC 48	02010-04-24 April 24, 2010			Sacramento, California, USA	For WEC Lightweight Championship
Win	Ed Ratcliff	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff	02009-12-19 December 19, 2009	3	3:47	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA	Won Fight of the Night Honors
Loss	Ben Henderson	Decision (Unanimous)	WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson	02009-10-10 October 10, 2009	5	5:00	San Antonio, Texas, USA	For the Interim WEC Lightweight Championship Won Fight of the Night Honors Sherdog 2009 Fight of the Year [2]
Win	James Krause	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber 2	02009-06-07 June 7, 2009	1	4:38	Sacramento, California, USA
Loss	Jamie Varner	Technical Decision (Split)	WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone	02009-01-25 January 25, 2009	5	1:58	San Diego, California, USA	For the WEC Lightweight Championship; Won Fight of the Night Honors
Win	Rob McCullough	Decision (Unanimous)	WEC 36: Faber vs. Brown	02008-11-05 November 5, 2008	3	5:00	Hollywood, Florida, USA	Won Fight of the Night Honors
Win	Danny Castillo	Submission (Armbar)	WEC 34: Faber vs. Pulver	02008-06-01 June 1, 2008	1	1:30	Sacramento, California, USA
NC	Kenneth Alexander	No Contest (Overturned)	WEC 30: McCullough vs. Crunkilton	02007-09-05 September 5, 2007	1	0:56	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA	Tested positive for banned substances
Win	Yasunori Kanehara	Submission (Triangle Choke)	GCM: Cage Force 3	02007-06-09 June 9, 2007	2	2:46	Tokyo, Japan
Win	Anthony Njokuani	Submission (Triangle Choke)	ROF 29: Aftershock	02007-04-28 April 28, 2007	1	4:30	Broomfield, Colorado, USA
Win	Ryan Roberts	Submission (Armbar)	ROF 28: Evolution	02007-02-16 February 16, 2007	1	1:49	Broomfield, Colorado, USA
Win	Jesse Brock	Submission (Triangle Choke)	ROF 26: Relentless	02006-09-09 September 9, 2006	1	1:35	Castle Rock, Colorado, USA
Win	Craig Tennant	Submission (Armbar)	ROF 24: Integrity	02006-06-17 June 17, 2006	1	1:26	Castle Rock, Colorado, USA
Win	Cruz Chacon	Submission (Triangle Choke)	ACF: Genesis	02006-02-24 February 24, 2006	2	2:25	Denver, Colorado, USA
Win	Nate Mohr	Submission (Triangle Choke)	ROF 21: Full Blast	02006-02-11 February 11, 2006	1	1:42	Castle Rock, Colorado, USA

References

External links

• Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone Official site