Looking to get back on the winning track after his disputed title loss to Ben “Smooth” Henderson at WEC 43, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is in talks to face heavy hitter Ed “9mm” Ratcliff in a featured lightweight bout at WEC 45 on December 19th in Las Vegas.
The fight, which has been verbally agreed to by both fighters, could serve as the main event of the card. A victory for either fighter will be crucial in getting back into the title hunt for the WEC Lightweight Championship, as both have suffered recent setbacks.
Cerrone (10-2-0, 1 NC) battled current champion Jamie “The Worm” Varner for the WEC Lightweight Championship at WEC 38, but lost a controversial Split Technical Decision after the fight was stopped in round five due to an illegal knee from Cerrone. Two judges scored the abbreviated fight for Varner, while one sided with Cerrone.
Since that time, Varner has been sidelined due to injury, which forced the WEC to install an interim title, but Cerrone came up short in his battle with WEC Interim Lightweight Champion Ben “Smooth” Henderson, who took a five-round decision that many felt should have gone Cerrone’s way.
Looking to rebound, Cerrone has his sights set on Ratcliff, who is also among the top contenders in the talent-rich division.
Ratcliff (7-1-0) won his first six fights by stoppage, including WEC victories over Johnny Sampaio and UFC veteran Alex Karalexis, but submitted to a first-round guillotine choke at WEC 33 against former title challenger Marcus “The Wrecking Ball” Hicks.
Known for his heavy hands, Ratcliff has knocked out five of his opponents and has only gone the distance one time.
Ratcliff will need to keep the fight on the feet at all costs as he looks to knock Cerrone out, but Cerrone has displayed a solid chin in the past and is extremely talented at working off of his back.
As Cerrone is a notoriously slow starter, Ratcliff’s best chance is to push the pace with strikes early on or he will likely fall victim to one of Cerrone’s many submissions.
Whether the bout serves as the main event or a co-main event, both fighters are known for their exciting fights and this should be no different.