Mixed martial arts veteran Donald Cerrone has responded to his critics, who accused him of ‘taking a dive’ against Conor McGregor.
The two UFC fighters with a very huge fan-following is scheduled to headline UFC 246 on Janaury 18, the first pay-per-view offering from the Nevada-based promotion in 2020.
‘Cowboy’ is excited for this fight, which he has been campaigning since last Summer, but he is also angry as there are claims he is set to earn a lucrative paycheck to take a dive.
“Hell no, I’m not bowing down,” Cerrone cleared in an interview with MMA Fighting earlier this month.
“There’s a bunch of s*** going around, people keep telling me, ‘I heard you’re getting paid to take a dive’.”
Fight For Free
McGregor will be returning to action since his fourth-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the chaotic UFC 229.
According to UFC president Dana White, a win against Cerrone could set the Irishman to a rematch with the lightweight champion.
But ‘Cowboy’ said beating him would not be a walk in the park for McGregor as he gave his side about the ‘taking a dive’ criticisms.
“There wouldn’t be enough money in the world for someone to pay me to take a dive. I could never look myself in the mirror if somebody paid me to take a dive. S***, never happen.”
“I’d rather fight for free than take money to f****** lose. That’s not me. I’m going to fight my ass off like I do every time.”
“I’m still No 4 or 5 or whatever the hell I am,” Cerrone stressed.
“It’s not like I’m getting beat up by bums, somewhere down there getting tumbleweeded in the rankings pool.”
“I don’t know where I’m sitting but I’m still at the top of the list.”
Legacy
Speaking to MMA Junkie, the 36-year old fighter said he is expecting a hungrier McGregor at UFC 246 but Cerrone is set to throw everything on the line in a bid to give fans the greatest fight ever.
“I’m going to go out there and stand up with him because that’s what everyone wants to see,” he told MMA Junkie.
“Someone said earlier that’s like fighting not to win almost, but hell no.”
“I’d rather go down in history as having the greatest fight ever and losing than fighting to just win and winning.
“I’m going out there to put on the line and throw down and give everyone what they want to see.”
“To me, that’s what I want my legacy to be.”
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Conor McGregor and YouTube/ ESPN MMA)