• UFC 131

Cerrone wary of 'monster' Rocha

ESPN staff
June 8, 2011
Donald Cerrone defeated Paul Kelly by rear naked choke © Getty Images
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Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone is fearful of the threat posed by newcomer Vagner Rocha, who he faces at UFC 131 this weekend.

Rocha, a Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) expert, holds a 6-1 record in MMA, with four of those triumphs coming via submission.

"I know he's a monster on the ground. I've watched videos online and he seems to be fantastic in BJJ, I know he's won pan-am and world titles. He is extremely dangerous," Cerrone told Tatame this week.

"[But] he's never faced anyone like me either. I respect Vagner as an opponent, he's very dangerous. But he has to get me to the ground first, and standing up is my speciality … He's competed at the highest level of BJJ. So, competing in front of fans is not his first time.

"I will say this though: I've been in main events before, the cameras are in your face from the time you step off the plane 'til the time you walk in the cage. That's a lot for someone to handle in his debut."

Cerrone is on a three-fight winning streak, and another success at the weekend will propel him into the title picture.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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