Donald Cerrone's strategy against Jeremy Stephens: 'I'm going to stand there and fight him'

One of the most exciting lightweights on the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) roster, Donald Cerrone, was knocking on the door of a title shot in the promotion's stacked 155-pound division just a few short months ago.

Winning six straight, dating back to his days with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), Cerrone reeled off four consecutive victories inside the Octagon and was seemingly a few wins away from a shot at the belt. However, Nate Diaz decided to play spoiler and put an end to his title aspirations at UFC 141 last December.

Now, "Cowboy" is ready to get back on the saddle and start his path up to the top of the lightweight totem pole.

First up on his agenda is a battle that is sure to provide fireworks against fellow striker, Jeremy Stephens, at UFC on FUEL TV 3 on May 15, 2012, from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

Appearing on the DC 101 Radio Show, Cerrone breaks down his upcoming battle against "Lil' Heathen" and discusses what type of strategy he will try to implement on fight night.

Check it out:

"The strategy, you want me to tell you the strategy? It's going to be easy, I'm going to stand there and fight him, I'm going to stand there and bang. Jeremy comes, he's going to stand there and he's going to fight and I respect that. I'm also going to stand there and I'm going to fight him, slow down and give the fans what they want to see, three rounds of just going after it. Maybe I can get a nice bonus and go buy some shit, go buy some more things to chase the women with. I'm 100 percent ready anywhere it goes, I'm ready. I can't wait to get in there and do it."

With a preference to stand-and-bang, Cerrone will stick to his striking roots while also going back to what worked for him in the past, his instincts:

"You know instinct, I think that's the thing a lot of people aren't doing. That's where I made the mistake in my last fight, is, you need to learn to turn your brain off and just go by reactions. Don't go in there and try and think and do things and fight with your brain, because that's the thing, I got angry and tried to kill him, and when you try to go to hard you just can't do it."

With Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson set to rematch later this year for "Smooth's" lightweight strap and Nate Diaz and Jim Miller ready to prove their worth of being number one contenders at UFC on Fox 3 on May 5, 2012, Cerrone has his work cut out for him if he wants to get back to the top.

Let's not forget Anthony Pettis, who also, as UFC President Dana White likes to say, is "in the mix."

Ready to put on a show for the fans, "Cowboy" is ready to get back inside the cage and do what he does best, stand there and fight.

What's your take Maniacs, in a striker vs. striker battle. Does Cerrone have the tools to clean the clock of one of the best stand-up fighters in the division?

Opinions, please.