Cerrone: Dos Anjos' going to be 'different' with USADA testing
When Donald Cerrone steps into the Octagon with the lightweight title hanging in the balance at UFC on FOX 17 on Saturday night, he expects a very different Rafael dos Anjos than the one he faced in 2013.
With both men adding considerable weapons to their respective arsenals since the initial encounter, Cerrone is actually referring to the physical differences he expects to see in dos Anjos ever since the UFC teamed with the USADA on a more stringent drug-testing policy.
"His strength, oh, it's going to be a different strength," Cerrone told MMA Fighting.com's Shaun Al-Shatti. "We have USADA testing now, so it's going to be all different. It's a whole new animal. I don't dwell on the last fight or anything, it's a whole new thing. I'm going out there, I'm looking to finish him, man. So the first round and second round, I'm coming out f--king hard."
Ever since the UFC-USADA rolled out the promotion's new drug screening policy, there's been heavy speculation suggesting select fighters have come to the cage much more deflated than they were before.
"Absolutely, dude," Cerrone said. "You see it a lot. Not dropping any names, but you've seen a lot of guys: 'Oh, wow, you look different ... and your cardio is different. And you can't walk through those punches like you used to.'
"So I like it, I'm 100 percent for it. It sucks that we're to that point where we have to test people and that there's no honesty, but hey, let's make it an even playing field, absolutely. Test me everyday if you have to."
Racking up an eight-fight winning streak since losing to dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 27, Cerrone expects to be a completely different "Cowboy" once the cage door closes on Dec. 19, and it has nothing to do with the random drug testing.
"(Dos Anjos) is definitely going to try to take me down. You know what he did to Pettis, he's going to try and do that to me," Cerrone said. "I'm a lot more dangerous on my back than Pettis. I truly believe I'm better than dos Anjos everywhere. Standing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu. I'm sure he's going to take where I want to take the fight and what I want to do. So what I'll do with him, man, I'm 1,000 percent confident in myself. Cerrone, by f**king head kick."