Donald Cerrone Claims He ‘Never Really Had a Game Plan’ Entering a Fight Prior to UFC Denver

There was definitely some extra emotion attached to Donald Cerrone’s victory over Mike Perry at UFC Fight Night 139 in Denver.

The most obvious aspect stemmed from his very public split with his longtime gym, Jackson-Wink MMA. Prior to his showdown with Perry, Cerrone parted ways the with Albuquerque-based camp after he revealed head striking coach Mike Winkeljohn chose to corner Perry over him.

Following a first-round armbar submission of “Platinum,” Cerrone offered an interesting take on his approach to the fight, which he claims differed from his many bouts with team Jackson-Wink in his corner.

“It’s crazy, moving away from Winkeljohn’s gym, we actually had a game plan coming into a fight,” Cerrone told reporters on Saturday (video via MMAjunkie.com). “I’ve never really had a game plan. Working with my coaches and them just being like, ‘Stay calm, stay at the end of his range and let him tire out and then we’ll pick him apart.’ Don’t just come out and walk him down like a Terminator and get your head beat in. It was good and it worked out.”

“Cowboy” previously revealed that Winkeljohn made the decision for financial reasons. After the fight, Cerrone says his grandmother had a few choice words for the coach.

“My grandma went and told Winkeljohn, ‘You should have bet on the dinosaur,'” Cerrone said. “He knows what he did. It’s all over money, too. That’s the worst part.

“Looks like he’s still not getting paid, is he?”

In addition to the tension of facing his former camp, Cerrone was not only fighting in his hometown, but it was his first time stepping into the Octagon as a father.

“I’ve never felt anything like it,” Cerrone explained on Fox Sports 1. “More than emotion, I couldn’t find it, I couldn’t find the gear. I couldn’t get going. It happens to me all the time. They showed me a picture of my son all dressed up in is cowboy boots with his buckle on and I just lost it. I’m back there crying. I’ve never felt anything like that in my life.

“It’s so cliche because I hear people talking about [what it’s like to be a father]. Is there something new to fight for? I’m like, ‘F—-king come on.’ Yes. Oh my God yes. I can’t explain it to you. I was like, you don’t even stand a chance.”

After a three-fight skid in 2017, the 35-year-old Cerrone has been victorious in two of his last three promotional appearances. Cerrone was planning on moving back to 155 pounds before the Perry fight was offered. Now, he is adamant about returning to the division where he once fought for a title. And in typical “Cowboy” fashion, sooner is better.

“I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me. If someone’s out there that wants to fight Cowboy, let’s go. I wouldn’t mind the end of the year or the Anaheim card (UFC 233). Let’s go.”