Cerrone expects undercard to overshadow main event

Saturday night's Ultimate Fighting Championship card on Fox features a world title fight and most likely the final UFC appearance of one of the all-time greats.

Yet the fight most fans seem to be looking forward to at UFC on Fox 6 in Chicago is a lightweight bout between contenders Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis.

Cerrone knows how high the expectations are for action and excitement from a matchup of two of the most flashy and athletic strikers in the organization.

"We're going to throw the (expletive) down," he said on a conference call.

Cerrone lobbied for this fight for nearly two years and repeatedly accused Pettis of dodging the matchup. Pettis, however, has been out the better part of a year recovering from shoulder surgery.

Now that the fight is approaching, Cerrone insists his insults were all part of the plan.

"Anthony is where he is because of where his talent is. I was just getting under his skin, getting him riled up to sign the papers. That's just what I was doing," Cerrone said. "So he's training hard, and I know that he took the proper time to get his shoulder ready, and he's coming and he's angry. It's going to be a fight that everyone's excited to see. It should be fun."

"Cowboy" knows a thing or two about fun. He lists bull riding among his hobbies and now has proclaimed his intent to give professional wakeboarding a try.

"Some people play video games or golf or whatever the hell they do. I just like get on the water and wakeboard," he said. "It's just like working out and it's like training, so it's something I thoroughly enjoy, and no I don't think it'll affect my training at all."

Before all that, he wants to beat Pettis. Cerrone also plans on going home with a "fight of the night" bonus.

When teammate John Dodson, who fights Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight title in the main event, said on the conference call he believes his bout will produce the most action on the card, Cerrone interrupted, telling Dodson he better find a new card to fight on if he plans to collect the extra cash.

The event also features a light heavyweight bout between Glover Teixeira and former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who reiterated his intention to become a free agent after Saturday night.

■ NEW TUF DEBUTS TONIGHT - The 17th season of "The Ultimate Fighter" debuts on its new night at 8 tonight on FX (Cable 24). The two previous seasons of the show on FX have aired on Friday nights to mediocre ratings.

Chael Sonnen and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will coach opposing teams of middleweights before meeting for the belt in April.

■ SONNEN RESPONDS - After knocking out Michael Bisping in the second round of the main event of Saturday night's UFC card in Brazil, Vitor Belfort made it clear he doesn't believe Sonnen deserves the title shot against Jones.

Belfort, who lost to Jones in September, took the microphone during his post-fight interview to call out Sonnen, who has consistently ripped Belfort.

"Take that clown away!" Belfort said. "Go home! You did a reality show. Now go home! Let me fight that real champion. Champion vs. champion. Not that clown!"

It's not clear exactly what Belfort meant in referring to himself as a champion, though he did hold the belt for a brief time in 2004.

Sonnen was serving as a co-host on the studio show for the event and got the chance to quickly respond to viewers and the ultra-religious Belfort.

"First, let me be really clear and talk to you, Vitor," said Sonnen. "You've been telling the world that you want to meet Jesus, and I will gladly arrange that travel. But first I'm going to get rid of Jon Jones, but you are next."

■ LION FIGHT RETURNS - A battle between Muay Thai world champions Yodsanklai Fairtex and Gregory Choplin headlines Lion Fight 8 on Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel.

The card, which also features a bout between female stars Tiffany Van Soest and Alexis Rufus, marks the organization's national television debut. The event will air live on AXS TV (formerly HDNet).

The first preliminary bout is scheduled for 5 p.m., with the main televised card going live at 7.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.