Donald Cerrone keeps making history.
#11 Alexander Hernandez has quickly emerged on the lightweight scene, and welcomed back #13 welterweight Donald Cerrone to the division. Unfortunately for him, a motivated Donald Cerrone welcomed his shin to Hernandez's dome piece for his first lightweight win since 2015.
-- Allow me to reintroduce myself --
— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019
Lightweight division, @CowboyCerrone is BACK!! #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/w8ogcFcdd3
An aggressive Hernandez was taken down early in the first round, and while he stayed aggressive, could never overcome the experience and technique of Donald Cerrone. A brutal head kick in round 2 for Cerrone was the beginning of the end, and led to ground and pound that stopped the fight.
The beginning of the end.@CowboyCerrone #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/c8l8uuCqQD
— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019
You can see an excerpt of our live coverage below.
Round Two: The round begins with Hernandez coming forward and swinging away at Cerrone, Hernandez grabs Cerrone and gets him against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Cerrone attacks Hernandez with some leg kicks, Cerrone comes forward and swings away at Hernandez. Hernandez cracks Cerrone with a kick to the midsection, Cerrone comes forward and he nails Hernandez with a combination. Cerrone backs Hernandez up while landing a kick to the midsection, the fighters clinch and exchange a few strikes. Hernandez and Cerrone clinch again while exchanging knee strikes, the fighters separate and Cerrone hits Hernandez with a counter left. Cerrone drops Hernandez with a head kick and he pounces on him with more strikes until the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Donald Cerrone def. #11 Alexander Hernandez by TKO via strikes (3:43, R2)
Ahead of the fight, Cerrone explained that the motivation for his return to the weight class was the birth of his child, which has him yearning for a UFC Championsip that he wasn't too concerned about in the past. In Cerrone's 40th fight under the Zuffa/Endeavor banner, and extended his UFC record with 22 wins.
Following the bout, Cerrone declared that he wanted a top 5 fight, specifically Conor McGregor if he'd take the bout. McGregor responded, saying he'd gladly take the fight.
For a fight like that Donald, I’ll fight you.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 20, 2019
Congratulations.
ESPN would also talk to Cerrone after the fight, which you can see below.
