Following Horodecki Win, 'Cowboy' Calls Out 'Magrinho'

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Donald Cerrone put on a dominant performance Thursday night, submitting International Fight League veteran Chris Horodecki at WEC 53 from the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

According to “Cowboy,” however, his performance left something to be desired.

“I wasn't exactly thrilled with the fight. I’m a striker, and I wanted to beat him at his own game. I got the win, submitted him with a triangle, so I can't complain,” said Cerrone. “But there are a couple of things I need to look at and see why I couldn't finish the triangle quicker.”

The Greg Jackson-trained muay Thai specialist got off to another slow start against Horodecki, a trend that “Cowboy” admits is something with which he still struggles. When asked at Thursday's post-fight news conference whether it was a mental issue or something external that Horodecki presented that caused Cerrone's slow start, the five-time “Fight of the Night” winner responded frankly.

“I don't know. It was probably that I just couldn't get going. He pushed forward and did what he needed to do,” said Cerrone. “In the fight, I just cant seem to put all my combinations together. In the gym, I can. So I'll go back Monday and [start working again].”

In the first round, the pair fought to a virtual stalemate. Though Cerrone probably landed the more meaningful blows, the much shorter Horodecki held his own. In his last performance, Cerrone shocked everyone by out-wrestling Jamie Varner at WEC 51. On Thursday, “Cowboy” joked that he may need to return to his kickboxing roots in the future.

“My wrestling is coming along, so now I guess I’ve really got to go work on my striking again,” he quipped.

WEC 53 marked the promotion's final event before merging with the UFC in 2011. One might think that a veteran of the little blue cage like Cerrone might have been fighting with a little something extra given the circumstances. Not so, says Cerrone, who claims he has given his all in each of his fights.

“I go and fight my ass off every time [I step in the cage].” he said. “This being the last [WEC event] wouldn't make me fight any harder. But the WEC helped brand my name and made 'Cowboy' who he is today.”

When asked what the future holds for “Cowboy,” the lightweight didn't stutter, calling out Cole Miller as his first UFC opponent.

“Absolutely that's the fight I want. I’ve wanted it since I got my foot in the door. Cole beat my good friend Leonard Garcia about three years ago,” he said. “I really wasn't anybody at the time, but I said, 'All right, motherf---er. I got you.”