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The 2nd main card fight on UFC on Fox 10 in Chicago is a lightweight showdown featuring the always entertaining Donald Cerrone (21-6, 1 NC MMA; 8-3 UFC) and Brazil's Adriano Martins (25-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who made a good impression in his UFC debut late last year. Cerrone's last trip to Chicago ended in disaster, but he's favored to make this year's Windy City visit a successful one.
Martins has won 6 in a row stretching back to late 2011, and this opportunity to take on a seasoned veteran is definitely unexpected but a huge opportunity. It's an intriguing clash of styles and I can't wait to see it. You can catch the UFC on Fox 10 main card on um ... Fox, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
How do these two stack up?
Cerrone: 30 years old | 6'0" | 73" reach
Martins: 31 years old | 5'10" | 72" reach
What have these two done recently?
Cerrone: W - Evan Dunham (SUB) | L - Rafael dos Anjos (UD) | W - K.J. Noons (UD)
Martins: W - Daron Cruickshank (SUB) | W - Jorge Gurgel (UD) | W - Jimmy Donahue (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Most MMA fans are familiar with Cerrone's work dating back to the WEC when he was a perennial contender and engaged in some of the organization's most exciting fights. His time in the UFC got off to a rocket start, winning 4 in a row before Nate Diaz dominated him at UFC 141. Last year was a big year for "Cowboy", as he was put in a de facto #1 contender match against Anthony Pettis and ended up writhing in pain after a body kick TKO in Chicago. He plastered K.J. Noons to set up an August showdown against Rafael dos Anjos, who took two rounds off of him and hung on in the 3rd for the upset win. Cerrone finished 2013 by becoming the first man to submit Evan Dunham, getting in a slick triangle choke in the 2nd round.
Martins is a skilled boxer and BJJ black belt who spent years on the regional scene in Brazil before heading to the US. Prior to signing with Strikeforce, Martins captured the Jungle Fights lightweight championship by KOing Neilson Gomes. After a successful defense he jumped to Strikeforce where he beat Jorge Gurgel by decision. The roster merging resulted in Martins getting a UFC contract, and his debut was an armbar win over Daron Cruickshank last November. He was the better striker and a clearly superior grappler and now he's been given the best opponent he's faced to date.
Why should you care?
Well ... it's a Donald Cerrone fight, which is reason enough to care as he's incredibly exciting, but it's also a big chance for Martins to enter himself into the top 10 conversation if he can pull off the upset.
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