John Wood says Donald Cerrone is as motivated as ever to rebound from his last loss.
The head coach and owner of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas is currently at Cerrone’s “BMF Ranch,” as he assists “Cowboy” with his preparation ahead of his fight with Anthony Pettis at UFC 249 on May 9.
Cerrone’s last fight saw him stopped in just 40 seconds by Conor McGregor at UFC 246 in January. According to Wood, it’s a defeat that has left Cerrone with a sour taste in his mouth and a renewed determination to bounce back.
“He’s looking great,” Wood told MMA Junkie. “He’s got a fire lit under his ass right now. I don’t think coming off that last loss, it’s not sitting well with him and he’s definitely, from what I see, he’s fired up, he’s ready to go, he’s motivated to train. We’re training two, three times a day right now. Hitting in the morning, working afternoon, night, and he seems to be really enjoying it again.
“He seems to be really enjoying the process, so I think you’re going to see a super motivated Donald Cerrone in there and I think that he’s going to go in there and get it done, for sure. Losing sucks and he’s not a guy that likes to lose and, no matter what, people can say whatever they want. That fight (McGregor) – that’s just how it happens sometimes.”
Cerrone will face former lightweight champion Pettis in a rematch of their first meeting from 2003, where Pettis bested him with a first-round finish.
However, Wood is confident that this time it will be Cerrone that gets the finish, and fans will go back to appreciating the “Cowboy” that has delivered highlight-reel finishes on a host of occasions throughout his career.
“I know ‘Cowboy’ is coming out of this fight with his hand raised,” Wood said. “I do not see it going the distance. I think he will finish Pettis in some fashion and I think you’re going to see a fired-up ‘Cowboy.’”
Coach John Wood: Donald Cerrone has 'a fire lit under his ass' after Conor McGregor loss
