Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun, The Blue Corner

Will Donald Cerrone’s move to Roufusport pay off against Conor McGregor at UFC 246?

Donald Cerrone will be closing out his training at Roufus Sport ahead of the biggest fight of his standout career.

Cerrone headlines UFC 246 on Jan. 18, when he takes on returning former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor in a welterweight bout.

Speaking on “The Luke Thomas Show,” head coach Duke Roufus revealed Tuesday that Cerrone will pay a visit to his gym after Christmas in preparation for his fight with McGregor. Roufusport is home to the likes of former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis, lightweight contender Paul Felder, and former welterweight champ Tyron Woodley.

The move to Milwaukee is so Cerrone can train with those fighters and work more closely with former kickboxing world champion coach Roufus in preparation for McGregor’s striking.

Having dropped his last two fights to Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, respectively, Cerrone finds himself with his back against the wall. It’s not unfamiliar territory for the 36-year-old veteran, only this time the magnitude of the fight – and the money and opportunities that come with a win over a star like McGregor – should add motivation for Cerrone at this point in his career.

So is the move to Roufusport a good one? Well, for starters, he wouldn’t be short of training partners to drill with. The likes of the Pettis brothers, Felder, and UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad might not mimic the exact style of McGregor, but they would certainly give Cerrone some good sparring rounds.

Working with an experienced coach like Roufus, who boasts a decorated kickboxing background, as well as the experience of cornering numerous championship fights, Cerrone will find himself training under the tutelage of a coach that has pretty much seen it all in combat sports.

“Cowboy” should be in good hands. But what do you think? You can vote in our poll below.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.