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[Sakara=Excitement]

Donald Cerrone unhappy with WEC 53 win, wants shot at UFC's Cole Miller | MMAjunkie.com

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Donald Cerrone picked up a quality win against a notable opponent, but following the WEC 53 performance, he wasn't exactly in a celebratory mood.

Cerrone (13-3 MMA 5-3 WEC), a five-time "Fight of the Night" winner with the WEC, saw plenty of problems in his second-round submission win over Chris Horodecki (16-3 MMA, 2-2 WEC).

More specifically, he wanted to beat the former kickboxer at his own game.

The fight was one of four that aired on Versus from Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz. It was the final WEC show before the organization's merger with its sister promotion, the UFC. With roster spots at a premium, it was important for Cerrone and other fighters to make a good impression in the WEC's final show.

Despite the win, Cerrone wasn't pleased.

"I wanted to come out there, and I'm striker," he told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). "That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to beat him at his own game. I got the win, so I can't complain ... (but) a couple of things I did wrong I need to go back and look at – see why I couldn't finish the triangle in speedy fashion – and figure out what I need to do to get to go where I can pull the trigger and get off first."

The ground battle that set up the eventual triangle choke wasn't exactly set up by a takedown. The fighters scrambled for position and fell to the mat, where Cerrone methodically but successfully transitioned from an omoplata to the triangle choke.

But he's still bothered by his striking in the fight. Despite a sizable height and reach advantage, Cerrone just couldn't put together the combos he wanted.

"I couldn't get going," he said. "He pushed forward and did what he needed to do. In the gym, I have no problem getting going and putting combinations together. In the fight, I just can't seem to put them together. That's something I need to work on.

"My wrestling, I feel, is coming along, and that's something I've really been working on. I guess I need to go back and start working on my striking again."

Following his win, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter made no secret of whom he wants in his UFC debut.

"Cole Miller is the guy I'm chasing down," he said. "That's the fight I want. It's a fight I've wanted since as long as I can remember."

So, what exactly prompted the bad blood? Cerrone said he simply wants to avenge a teammate's loss, and he's waited years to do it.

"He beat Leonard Garcia about three-and-a-half years ago (at UFC Fight Night 11)," Cerrone said. "I was there. I was the young one there and had only had about five fights. I remember Cole was kind of – well, I was like, 'Alright, mother [expletive], I got you.'"

[pantomime horse]

I enjoyed Cerrone's fight. Horodecki went after him with everything he had and Donald did what he had to do to win.

[joeodd2]

I'm kinda bummed Horodecki was my boy.......I hope the kid considers moving down to 145 or going to a new gym, that advise was fucking ridiculous! Take him down? And do fucking what exactly? Donald had legs like Anderson Silva, why the fuck would you tell your guy to play in his guard? Next time I bet Horodecki gets up like a snake bit his balls.....

[rivethead]

I have Cole beating Cerrone 8 times out of 10.

rh

[Supe]

The rarely seen cole miller call out

[TheKidInside]

Chris is way too small for 155 always has been. and he's never gotten any bigger since he was 18 unfortuantely, Cole is one tough cookie and Cerrone does well against him but Cole is sooo lethal with his jits...

[beau420]

I don't like that Cerrone wants to be considered a striker, but he is so obviously a guy who is BJJ first.

I know he wants to be entertaining, but maybe he hasn't taken a look at his record....he has never KOd another fighter. He has 13 wins and 11 by submission (2 decision wins)

He has decent striking, but compared to most of the 155ers, he is slow because of his size. I think he should really concentrate on his BJJ and try and school people on the ground. A couple times during the Cerrone vs Polish Hammer fight Cerrone had some chances to finish the Hammer on the ground but he let him get up.

I would like him to be lethal on the ground. I mean, sure, keep improving his standup but during a couple of his fights it looked like he wanted to showcase his striking and didn't go for the finish or his strengths.

Always super entertaining, but I think he has been his own demise in a couple of his fights.

[dgil]

Cerrone is the man. He shouldn't be unhappy with his performance, and I think a fight between him and Cole would be amazing. They are both kind of similar in their styles, it should make for a good fight.