To watch Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone full fight video highlights from UFC on FOX 17 right now click here.
It was the biggest fight of his life and Donald Cerrone once again wilted under the glare of the big lights as the powerful Rafael dos Anjos defended his lightweight belt tonight (Sat., Dec. 19, 2015) in Orlando, Florida on UFC on Fox 17.
The moment was an opportunity of redemption for "Cowboy" who had been known to choke in big fights earlier in his career, dropping a pair of opportunities to Benson Henderson back at WEC 48 and WEC 43 more than half a decade ago.
Cerrone had clearly matured since then, utilizing his superb striking to set up a rematch against the Brazilian he fought two years ago.
The road back ironically began with a loss to dos Anjos way back at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 in August of 2013. With his third loss in six fights it looked like Cerrone might be on a career slide.
"Cowboy" had other plans, however, ripping off eight consecutive wins over the next 24 months to earn himself a shot at the champion.
Unfortunately for Cerrone fans, the streak ended in dramatic fashion as dos Anjos knocked him out just over a minute into the very first round of their five-round title bout in Orlando.
The win for dos Anjos sets up a possible grudge match against recently crowned featherweight champion Conor McGregor, who verbally tussled with Cerrone and dos Anjos in September's "Go Big" press conference and has insisted he will clean out the "stuck in the mud division."
The champion has said he would "crush" McGregor should he choose to come up a weight class, a promise that sounds more convincing after having watched how he handled Cerrone tonight.
Aside from the looming threat of McGregor, there are several exciting fights to make with a new champion from within his own weight class, including the impressive return of Nate Diaz earlier tonight, a dangerously improving Tony Ferguson, and the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, should the Dagestani ever get rid of the injury bug.
It's interesting times in the UFC as champion after champion has fallen to rising contenders. It is now dos Anjos' job to keep those contenders from also dethroning him.
For full UFC on FOX 17: "dos Anjos vs. Cerrone," including play-by-play results, click here.