Former training partners-turned rivals, Donald Cerrone and Matt Brown, hooked ‘em tonight (Sat., Dec. 10, 2016) in the UFC 206 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event inside Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cerrone — a former Lightweight title challenger — looked to make it four straight Welterweight victories at the expense of Brown, who had dropped four of his last five appearances inside the Octagon heading into this evening.
Make it five in a row, as Cerrone battled a very game Brown for two hard rounds before he finally ended his night with a perfectly-placed switch-kick knockout in the final frame.
Cerrone opened the action with a low kick and then later faked a takedown to keep Brown off balance. Cerrone landed a nice kick to the body, then a combination, that pushed Brown back to the fence. Brown looked to pump the jab and Cerrone responded in kind. Brown landed a nice right hook that made Cerrone bite down on his mouthpiece then landed a high kick. Moments later Cerrone did the same, rocking Brown with a high kick as his face appeared swollen and bloody. Brown looked to trap Cerrone along the cage and landed a few shots. In a scramble, Brown appeared to pull guard after missing on a high kick, locking Cerrone in a triangle, who was eventually able to escape after a brief struggle. The two went back-and-forth for the remainder of the round with Brown dropping Cerrone at the buzzer.
Brown came out for the second looking to land a front kick or three. Cerrone did the same and then whiffed on a high kick. Brown landed a nice short left that once again appeared to buzz Cerrone. Moments later he dropped him with a clean right hand, but Cerrone was able to pop right back up. Brown continued to push forward as Cerrone tried to get his bearings. He then dropped Brown with a head kick and then hurt him later with an overhand right. Brown was clearly wobbled as Cerrone snapped his head back with a stinging left jab — Brown’s face was a mess. It did not deter him though as he continued to throw caution to the wind with hard, looping punches. Brown landed a short inside elbow toward the end of the round, which ended with him missing with a wheel kick.
In the third and final frame, both fighters finally agreed to touch gloves as Cerrone tried to get the crowd fired up. He landed a vicious right hand early that backed up Brown, who appeared to be showing signs of broken eye orbital. And then just like that, Cerrone landed a killer switch-kick walkoff knockout. He didn’t even bother to rush in and do any more damage — Brown was clearly done.
Cerrone will once again climb up the 170-pound rankings ladder. In fact, he wants to continue that rise in a just five weeks when UFC heads to Denver, Colorado.
That’s “Cowboy.”
For complete UFC 206: “Holloway vs. Pettis” results, including play-by-play updates, click here.