After Donald Cerrone’s UFC on FOX 17 loss to Rafael dos Anjos, it was revealed that Cerrone would be moving up to welterweight to face Tim Means in Pittsburgh.
Ultimately, Means was pulled from the event after it was revealed that he potentially failed a USADA drug test. The UFC replaced Means with Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira in a battle of the Cowboy’s.
Ahead of the fight on Sunday, Cerrone’s coach, Greg Jackson, spoke with BloodyElbow to discuss the matchup, as well as Cerrone’s future at welterweight.
He’s been looking really good in training, he’s a lot happier now that he doesn’t diet so hard, and I think he’s going to be more productive.”
Jackson also elaborated on why Cerrone chose to go up to welterweight rather than stay at lightweight.
I think that he was getting so light that he was just wasn’t feeling confident. He wouldn’t open up, he was worried about getting gassed out, I think it’s all of these things that moving up a weight class is really going to help him with. I think that he’s going to be stronger, more healthy, his body is going to be able to absorb damage better, [and] I think it’s an all-around good move.”
Wait…so that means Donald Cerrone didn’t fire Greg Jackson?