Donald Cerrone moves up to welterweight, faces Tim Means in UFC Pittsburgh main event

[Zeph]

Donald Cerrone continues to prove he means it when he says "anytime, anywhere with anyone." This time, it's at any weight, too.

"Cowboy" will move up to welterweight and fight Tim Means in the main event of UFC Fight Night 82 on Feb. 21 in Pittsburgh, it was announced Friday during the UFC 195 weigh-in show on FOX Sports 1.

Cerrone (28-7, 1 NC) only fought two weeks ago against lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC on FOX 17 in Orlando. Dos Anjos won via TKO in just 66 seconds. Cerrone, 32, won eight in a row previously. "Cowboy," long one of the top lightweights in the world, has never fought at welterweight as a pro.

Means (25-7-1) is coming off a second-round knockout of John Howard at UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant last month. Overall, he has won five of his last six fights. Means, 31, is a former lightweight who moved up in 2013 with great success.

Both men, coincidentally, train and live in New Mexico -- Cerrone at JacksonWink MMA and Means at Fit NHB.

UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Means will mark the UFC's return to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2011. Also on the card, Roan Carneiro takes on Derek Brunson and John Lineker meets Cody Garbrandt.

LINK: Donald Cerrone moves up to welterweight, faces Tim Means in UFC Pittsburgh main event

 

[Wild]

Not a lot of options for Cowboy at LW at the moment, and who knows....maybe WW will be better for him physically. He's got the height and reach to compete there, for sure.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Hell yeah. I think he'll enjoy not having to cut weight and will do well because of it.

 

[TheFifthScallop]

Should be a great fight. I wonder if him moving up to welterweight has anything to do with the IV ban.

 

[Greek777]

Pretty interesting, but I can't help but wonder if this is too quick of a turnaround after the beating he took from RDA. Then again, it's not like he was knocked out cold. My main concern for the guy would be potential brain damage, but I don't seem to recall him eating a ton of hard shots to the head. Mostly seemed hurt by the body shots.

Still though, Cowboy is the man. I love seeing someone fight as often as he does and wish way more guys did the same (of course as long as they're healthy). I think 170 could be great for him. He was a huge 155er... Can you just imagine Robbie vs Cowboy some day down the road? That would be fireworks.

 

[La Paix]

This is good news IMO. I'm loving the the way him and Benson are just keeping busy where ever they can, good for Donny.

 

[Limpy]

This will be fun. Means is a beast.

Cerrone has a lot of matchups at WW that give me a stiffy.

 

[Wild]

Should be a great fight. I wonder if him moving up to welterweight has anything to do with the IV ban.

Probably more to do with him losing twice to the current LW champ.

 

[Limpy]

Probably more to do with him losing twice to the current LW champ.

and running away from LW because McGregor is coming.

 

[Wild]

and running away from LW because McGregor is coming.

 

[maurice]

Cerrone struggled against the top strikers at LW. Hard to see how he'd do better at WW. It's not like he was a heavy LW drained by the weight cut.

 

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

Pretty interesting, but I can't help but wonder if this is too quick of a turnaround after the beating he took from RDA. Then again, it's not like he was knocked out cold. My main concern for the guy would be potential brain damage, but I don't seem to recall him eating a ton of hard shots to the head. Mostly seemed hurt by the body shots.

Still though, Cowboy is the man. I love seeing someone fight as often as he does and wish way more guys did the same (of course as long as they're healthy). I think 170 could be great for him. He was a huge 155er... Can you just imagine Robbie vs Cowboy some day down the road? That would be fireworks.

I love Cowboy as much as the next guy, but I don't think he matches up well with the top of the heap at 170. In my opinion, everyone in the top 10 at WW would maul him. The only exception would be if he finds a way to keep Maia from getting him on the ground. The best 5 WW 's could do whatever they want with cowboy. But hey who knows, maybe some of those guys will be moving up too with the IV ban in place.

 

[Silverball]

Means game plan: kick the body, knee the body, punch the body.

 

[Jared Fogle]

Weird fight and kinda a weak main event but potential for a lot of violence.

 

[Robbie Hart]

and running away from LW because McGregor is coming.

First thought that came into my head.......and if Conor follows him to 170, expect him to announce move to 185.