Erick Gonzalez won’t stop trying to pursue a fight with Donald Cerrone.
Gonzalez (13-5) already threw his name in the hat once when Cerrone was in need of an opponent after Diego Sanchez withdrew from their UFC on ESPN 24 bout this past Saturday. The promotion opted to go with Alex Morono, who stopped Cerrone by TKO in the first round.
“My manager did ask for the fight for us,” Gonzalez told MMA Junkie. “I was told that there were many guys already in the UFC who asked for the fight, as well. I wanted to reassure Sean Shelby that I was ready and willing to move up a weight class to face a living legend to make the fight happen as my debut. I couldn’t say we were close, but I was ready to do what was necessary to make it happen.”
Cerrone (36-16 MMA, 23-13 UFC), the all-time leader for most UFC wins, is currently 0-5 with one no contest in his past six. Dana White said he’s willing to give “Cowboy” an opportunity to compete in the octagon at least one more time, and Gonzalez would be honored to be Cerrone’s potential final fight in the UFC.
“Now that Cerrone wants a fight at 155, I definitely want to continue to push for this fight,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a legend. I’ve watched all his fights and he is one of the greatest. To face him in my UFC debut, I would be honored. I’ve seen guys face recently legends in the UFC, for example (Israel) Adesanya fighting (Anderson) Silva.
“That’s a dream of mine – to fight someone I’ve looked up to my entire fighting career. He set the bar high. I want to break those performance records, and to start with a legend would be the best way. He is an elite striker and grappler. This would be a great test for me at this point in my career as an up-and-coming fighter coming off a third-round TKO victory for Naciones MMA.”
Gonzalez has competed the majority of his career under the Combate Americas banner and the 29-year-old said he’s ready for the big stage. “The Ghost Pepper” has won three of his past four and is coming off a stoppage win in March. Although he’s aware the UFC likely will look for someone within the organization, he explained why he’d be the perfect fight for Cerrone.
“I’m a unique fighter and the majority of my fights have been main events,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve always made the fights entertaining, as I love to stand and trade, but my ground game is high level, as well. I fought in an eight-man tournament in the past where I fought three times in one night. I’m very dangerous wherever the fight goes, and I have a chin you’ve never seen. I smile throughout my fights and bring pressure to my opponents that makes them uncomfortable. I’m a pressure fighter, and I don’t gas.”