UFC
UFC 141's Donald Cerrone feels he's the best striker at 155 lbs., ready for "game" Nate Diaz on Friday night
Dec 27, 2011 - 2:45:03 PM UFC 141's Donald Cerrone feels he's the best striker at 155 lbs., ready for "game" Nate Diaz on Friday night

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Though UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will rightfully gain recognition for one of the single best years in the history of MMA for his four wins in 2011, Donald Cerrone has had one hell of a year himself.

The former WEC mainstay has found his rhythm in the UFC, making a quick rise up the ranks of the lightweight division with four wins already in 2011, with plans for adding a fifth this Friday night in Las Vegas.

Cerrone meets Nate Diaz in the co-main event of UFC 141, the UFC's final event of 2011. For the exciting lightweight, the matchup provides a tough challenge, but more than that a fighter whose style he enjoys going up against.

"He's got good standup, if the fight goes to the ground his jiu jitsu is very good," Cerrone said of Diaz's game in a pre-fight interview for UFC.com. "All that aside, the motherf***er is game. Right now, if I bumped into him in the parking lot and said 'what's up?' we're throwing down, and to me, I like that mentality. You can't teach that."

While Cerrone respects that aspect of Diaz's game, he's clear to point out that he's got those same attributes, and the Diaz boys in the 209 aren't the only ones that can leave it in the cage.

"They come to fight, me too," Cerrone said. "I'm just as game as you are. You don't have to be from Stockton to be tough. I am the best striker in the [lightweight] division. I know that. I'm gonna to kick him, I'm gonna knee him, I'm gonna elbow him, I'm gonna punch him. If he wants to stand, let's stand."

Cerrone is completely confident in himself coming into this fight, and any trash talking that Diaz can throw this way is only going to serve as added motivation on fight night. Ultimately, Cerrone feels he's the better fighter, and plans to leave Las Vegas with a 5-0 record in 2011.

"Come fight night, let's go motherf***er, I don't care where it goes," Cerrone said. "But, if you want to talk s*** to me, you're just gonna raise me and piss me off, and make me a better fighter; so feed my f***ing flame, that's all I say, let's go. Hell or high water I'll be there to fight Nate. At the end of the night I'm gonna have my hand raised, I can tell you that."

Penick's Analysis: This is a fantastic lightweight matchup, and could very well challenge any other bout from 2011 in a number of categories when all is said and done. Of course, high expectations for a fight like this could potentially lead to disappointment, but neither fighter has the type of style to make this a boring fight. They're both more than willing to engage in a scrap that may not be in their best interests, and they will put on one hell of a show in this slot on Friday night.