Donald Cerrone threw everything, including the kitchen sink, at Al Iaquinta.
Cerrone (36-14 MMA, 23-11 UFC) faced Iaquinta on May 4, 2019 in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 9 and was coming off back-to-back finishes over Mike Perry and Alexander Hernandez.
In one of Cerrone’s best performances of his career, he put on a striking clinic on the tough and durable Iaquinta, who continued to eat shots throughout the fight. It took Cerrone a few rounds to get into his groove, with Iaquinta finding success early as the two stood toe to toe and traded. But as the third round kicked in, Cerrone started to find his range, peppering Iaquinta with his jab. He dropped Iaquinta with a short left at the end of the third, which set the tone for the later rounds.
Cerrone poured it on in Rounds 4 and 5, dropping a bloodied Iaquinta once again, this time with a front kick. Iaquinta hung tough, but it was all Cerrone late, who scored the unanimous decision win.
Cerrone was enjoying his best stretch in years but would go on to drop his next three in a row to Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor.
Cerrone faces Anthony Pettis this Saturday at UFC 249 in a rematch from of their 2013 fight, which Pettis one by first-round finish.
Before he rematches Pettis, relive Cerrone’s clinic over Iaquinta in the video above.
