Cerrone stakes claim for title fight with dominating win over Iaquinta

The main event of UFC on ESPN+9 in Ottawa, Canada featured a lightweight fight between former title challenger ‘Ragin’ Al Iaquinta and top contender Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. The main event and card aired exclusively on ESPN+.

Donald Cerrone looks right at home back at lightweight. And being a dad seems to suit him just fine as well.

In the main event of UFC Ottawa, Cerrone (36-11, 1 NC) put on another vintage striking performance, outworking Al Iaquinta (14-5-1) over the course of five action-packed rounds to earn a unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46) win, his 23rd overall in the UFC.

Cowboy is actually undefeated at 4-0 when competing in Canada, but more importantly, he’s unbeaten since the birth of his son Dacson Danger, who joined him in the Octagon on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre.

Dad Cerrone is 3-0 now so I’m on a new mission, I’ve got to build this boy a swimming pool, he said post-fight.

source: mmafighting.com

Official Result: Donald Cerrone defeated Al Iaquinta by Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)

Play-By-Play

Round 1 – Iaquinta stoic in the center with his hands high. He switches to a karate stance and rushes forward. Side kick misses. Cerrone pumping the jab, feeling the range. Iaquinta now in a more traditional stance and kicks the leg. Cerrone does the same. Iaquinta explodes with a big right hand that misses over the top. Iaquinta doing a good job of moving in and out of range with strikes. Cerrone kicks to the body. Iaquinta targeting the body early. Cerrone launches a right hand. A high kick misses up top. Cerrone pumping the jab. Iaquinta misses on another massive right hand. Cerrone with a slapping kick to the leg. Iaquinta with a nice counter right over a kick. Cerrone continues to be the main walking forward.Iaquinta gets a short right inside. Cerrone with a counter left. Uppercut and left hand land for Iaquinta. He’s having some success as he rushes. Iaquinta ducks into a low kick but shakes it off. More low kicks from Cerrone. Iaquinta counters with punches. Tense opening round. MMA Junkie leans toward Cerrone, 10-9.

Round 2 – Iaquinta misses a big right to stat. Cerrone pumping the jab. He kicks the lead leg. Left hands traded. Cerrone kicks to the body and nearly has his leg caught but pulls away. Iaquinta busted up a little under the right eye. Cerrone chopping at the leg, and Iaquinta taking some damage there. Iaquinta with a right hand over the top. He slips the reply and land another. Stiff shots there. Cerrone with the jab. Iaquinta with some tricky movement, trying to catch Cerrone off-rhythm. Iaquinta with a high kick that partially lands. Leg kicks traded. Cerrone keeping his range. He lands a left hand but misses the right behind it. Big left hand for Iaquinta. He lands a right hand over the top that wobbles Cerrone. Another close round, but MMA Junkie leans toward Iaquinta, 10-9.

Round 3 – Iaquinta coming out firing kicks. Cerrone looking to press and lands a kick to the body. Head kick just mosses over the top for Cerrone. He keeps pumping the jab, and Iaquinta’s nose now bleeding. Cerrone walking forward and chopping at the legs. The jab is keeping Iaquinta away right now. Iaquinta moving on the outside, and he leaps from range, but Cerrone slips it. Cerrone with another chop at the leg. Iaquinta replies in kind. Iaquinta teases a takedown then tries to punch as he pulls away. Blood really streaming out of Iaquinta’s nose right now. More leg kicks from Cerrone. Left hand lands hard for Cerrone. He’s gain some steam, but Iaquinta firing back with power in his right hand. Cerrone has to respect what’s coming at him. He kicks high, but it’s blocked. Cerrone with a big kick to the body. He’s knocked off-balance by a big Iaquinta right but pops back up and avoids any damage. Cerrone continues to tear at the leg and then kicks up high, as well. Stiff left drops Iaquinta in the final seconds. He pounds away until the bell. MMA Junkie gives it to Cerrone.

Round 4 – Iaquinta out quickly and looking to attack. Cerrone again with a vicious low kick. Cerrone with a front kick to the chest. Front kick to the face lands, and Iaquinta hits the deck. Cerrone follows to the floor and tries to take the back, but Iaquinta able to scramble free and reset. Iaquinta again bleeding badly early in the round. He’s still throwing punches with power. Cerrone attacking but can’t get reckless. Cerrone high kick blocked. Iaquinta scores a big left hand, but Cerrone brushes it off. Leg kick for Cerrone. High kick blocked. Iaquinta’s corner asking him to be first, but he’s having issues with the range. He does leap with a left hand that again briefly stuns Cerrone. Cerrone with a left hook and a lead uppercut. Nice work. Cerrone eats a big right hand but comes right back with a combination of his own. One minute left. Both men look surprisingly well right now. Cerrone kicks the leg and then goes up high. Iaquinta tries to grab the leg but has to pull back. Iaquinta able to grab a low kick, but he can’t get Cerrone off his feet. MMA Junkie gives the round to Cerrone, 10-9.

Round 5 – Referee Jerin Valel brings in the doctors to check out Iaquinta’s eye, but he’s cleared. Touch of gloves to start the final round. Iaquinta is pressing, knowing he needs something special. Cerrone moving well and pumping the jab. Cerrone chops the leg, and Iaquinta briefly changes stances. Iaquinta throwing big right hands, but he’s missing right now. The blood again flowing down Iaquinta’s face. More low kicks for Cerrone, and Iaquinta is hurting. Still, there’s no quit. Another low kick for Cerrone. Iaquinta staying busy with movement on the outside. He lands a right hand over a Cerrone low kick. Iaquinta refusing to back down. He’s still dangerous. Two minutes remain. Cerrone kicks to the body. He lands a right hand. Iaquinta with a stiff left in reply, but Cerrone shakes it off and flurries with a big combination. Iaquinta dives on a leg but can’t get the takedown. He punches as he pulls away. Cerrone high kick blocked. Iaquinta lands his own high kick. Cerrone pushing forward and looking to flurry. He’s trying to finish until the end. Iaquinta swinging back. Great finish to a tense fight. MMA Junkie gives the round to Cerrone, 10-9, and awards him the fight 49-46.

source: mmajunkie.com

Social Timeline

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

What an ending to this fight!! #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/oGnisxe5mi

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019

Another angle 😳#UFCOttawa @CowboyCerrone pic.twitter.com/Q7BvUEi9WV

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019

FRONT KICK TO THE FACE!@CowboyCerrone #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/DQBvUPDFo9

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019

Cowboy drops Al at the end of the third, but Iaquinta survives the round! #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/TsuUj3guxo

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019

Iaquinta tags Cowboy with two HUGE right hands! #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/ZzjXI5fdws

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019

They're trading early in round 1! #UFCOttawa pic.twitter.com/WuYqx2H5Vk

— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2019