Cowboy Cerrone made history on a historic night at UFC Denver, submitting Mike Perry, and setting the record for most UFC wins.
While it was slotted in as the co-main event at UFC Denver, to many, Cowboy Cerrone vs. Mike Perry was the real main event. Cowboy was the hometown hero, the guy who always entertains. A UFC legend, looking to tie the promotion’s record for most wins, and most walks to the cage in UFC/WEC/Pride/Strikeforce history. Platinum Mike Perry? A brawler who never backs down.
It was a recipe for fireworks on Saturday night at the Pepsi Center. That it was the UFC’s 25th anniversary was almost an afterthought.
Massive ‘Cowboy’ chants echoed through the arena early in the co-main event. The pair clinched early, with Perry working to block the takedown. The two traded knees, before breaking and resetting. Cerrone fired off a whip-like leg kick. Landed a jab up the middle. Cerrone ducked in for a takedown, then backed off; Perry charged in with an uppercut. Again, off the next takedown attempt by Cerrone, Perry showed he’d been working on his defense. Then, with two minutes or so in the round, it was Perry landing a takedown, and moving to side control. Cowboy, however, reversed ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry with ease. He moved to side control, then nearly had the back. A minute remained in the round. Perry, however, shook Cowboy off his back when Cerrone finally mounted it. Perry then found himself in Cerrone’s guard, not a good place to be.
Cowboy latched onto Perry’s arm and wrenched it back. Perry tried to step over, but he was caught. Cerrone was putting everything into the submission, wincing with effort. Perry was forced to tap, and with the tap, Donald Cerrone claimed the record for most UFC wins.
Nice sweep from @CowboyCerrone at #UFCDenver. #UFC25Years pic.twitter.com/c5TqNXWNIr
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) November 11, 2018
After the fight, Cerrone brought his family into the cage, including his four month old son, Jackson Danger Cerrone. Saying he’d never known what he fought for before, he does now. As far as who’s next? “I don’t care who, I just want to know when!” He then added a warning for lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov: “Cowboy’s back!”
THAT'S IT!! @CowboyCerrone taps Perry in round 1!
… And then brings his son in the Octagon! #UFCDenver pic.twitter.com/1LZPoIARtT
— UFC (@ufc) November 11, 2018
Donald Cerrone def. Mike Perry by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 4:46
