MMA Notes: Donald Cerrone to face Robbie Lawler later this month
Donald Cerrone and Robbie Lawler are hoping the third time’s the charm.
The L.A. Times reported Sunday that UFC president Dana White had confirmed Cerrone and Lawler would be fighting at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, on July 29. The UFC announced the fight later in the week.
This is the third time the fight has been scheduled. Cerrone, an Air Academy graduate, and Lawler, the former welterweight champion, were originally slated to fight in late 2016, but Lawler (27-11, one no contest) asked out of that fight.
Then the two were supposed to fight this week at UFC 213. But that was called off when Cerrone (32-8, 1 NC) suffered a pulled groin and a blood infection, as reported by MMAJunkie.com.
Both Cerrone and Lawler are coming off losses.
Now, UFC 214 is turning into one of the best cards of the year. In addition to those two squaring off, there are three title fights scheduled, headlined by the return of Jon Jones, as he takes on light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in a rematch.
Jones, who hasn’t fought since April 2016 due to a suspension, won the first fight, Cormier’s only loss. Former UNC wrestler headlines UFC event
Justin Gaethje, a former wrestler at Northern Colorado, makes his UFC debut Friday, headlining “The Ultimate Fighter Finale” in Las Vegas.
Gaethje (17-0) moves over from the World Series of Fighting where he was the lightweight champion and made five consecutive title defenses. He didn’t want a tuneup fight in the UFC either, jumping right into the organization against Michael Johnson (18-11), ranked fifth by UFC.com.
“I want people to want to see me get embarrassed, and I don’t want to do that through talking … ,” he told UFC.com in May. “I want to do that through self-belief. I believe I’m the best and I believe in this sport it comes down to fractions of inches and milliseconds and a little bit of luck because it takes just one punch.”
Johnson has won one of his last four.
Gaethje trains in Arvada under Trevor Wittman at Genesis Training Center.
Pennington fit to pen autographs
While Raquel Pennington isn’t fighting this week (she underwent shoulder surgery in January and has yet to return), she is in Vegas supporting her fiancée Tecia Torres and signing autographs.
As part of the UFC’s International Fight Week, the Harrison High graduate will interact with fans and sign autographs.
Torres, who now trains full time in Colorado Springs, fights Friday night at “The Ultimate Fighter Finale.”
Earlier this year Pennington told ESPN.com that she would be out the first half of 2017.
Other Colorado fighters in action
Brian Camozzi (7-3), a Factory X fighter, takes on Chad Laprise (11-2) at UFC 213 on Saturday. … Monument’s Joe Warren (14-6) is back in the cage to take on Steve Garcia (7-1) at Bellator 181 in Thackerville, Oklahoma, July 14. … Joining Warren on the same card is Brandon Girtz (14-6), another Genesis Training Center fighter, who will headline Bellator 181 against Derek Campos (18-6) . … Drew Dober (17-8, 1 NC), who trains and fights out of Denver, is on the same card as Cerrone. The native Nebraskan will fight Josh Burkman (29-15, 1 NC).
Donald Cerrone (left) and Robbie Lawler will be fighting at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, on July 29.
Donald Cerrone gestures after defeating John Makdessi in their lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC on 187 Saturday, May 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Robbie Lawler, right, hits Carlos Condit during a welterweight championship mixed martial arts bout at UFC 195, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Donald Cerrone (left) and Robbie Lawler will be fighting at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, on July 29.
Donald Cerrone gestures after defeating John Makdessi in their lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC on 187 Saturday, May 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Robbie Lawler, right, hits Carlos Condit during a welterweight championship mixed martial arts bout at UFC 195, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)