Jorge Masvidal knew he wasn’t going to be the crowd favorite in a Denver matchup against Colorado native Donald Cerrone.
And he wasn’t about to give them anything to cheer, either.
“Even if you’re all booing me, I know it’s because I’m not from here,” Masvidal (32-11) said. “Save your breath.”
Masvidal arguably knocked out Cerrone twice before he was finally given the official nod in the second round at UFC on FOX 23. The time of the finish in the welterweight fight at Pepsi Center was 1:00.
The first time came in the closing seconds of the opening round, as he dropped Cerrone with a counter left, then unleashed five right hands. Referee Herb Dean stepped in and declared the round over, but replays appeared to show he stepped in before the horn sounded.
The American Top Team fighter made things academic in the second. He continued to pour it on, finally forcing Dean to step in and wave it off, as Cerrone was out on his feet.
The victory marked a breakthrough for Masvidal, one of the toughest fighters in the sport, who had been on the wrong end of three questionable split decisions in four fights before finally turning things around. He’s now won three in a row.
“I’m a real fighter,” Masvidal said. “Dana White, bring me someone that can beat me. You can’t find no one that can beat me.”
Cerrone (32-8, 1 NC) had a four-fight win streak snapped and lost for the first time since going up to 170 pounds.