UFC 131 Fight Card: Will Donald Cerrone Fight for the UFC Lightweight Title?

Donald Cerrone is one of the most underrated lightweights to come over from the WEC-UFC merger.

Joining a division that is stacked to the brim with talented and skilled fighters, it's disheartening to see a six-time Fight of the Night winner get lost in the shuffle.

Looking at the "Cowboy's" record, he has only tasted defeat on three occasions—all in title matches. Cerrone was able to avenge his loss to former WEC champion Jamie Varner while putting on great performances in his losses to Ben Henderson.

What fans fail to realize about this Greg Jackson product is that he is one of the most well-rounded and dynamic fighters in the division.  With a perfect 28-0-1 Muay Thai record, it's amazing how his grappling is right up there with his striking.

Out of Cerrone's 14 MMA wins, 12 are by submission with tap out victories over Paul Kelly, Chris Horodecki and Anthony Njokuani.

Set to face jiu-jitsu expert Vagner Rocha, a replacement for Mac Danzig, tonight at UFC 131, Cerrone will be tested as to whether he can keep his three-fight winning streak going and win a spot in the upper echelon of the division.

If all goes well, then why not add Cerrone to the title mix?

Of course, he will need a few more wins over bigger names, but his skills are right up there with any of the top contenders and his cowboy background would certainly make a marketable persona for a UFC champion.

Cerrone's heart and determination also make him poised to be a contender one day.  There is just no quit in this guy who has only been finished once in his career—a viciously deep guillotine by Ben Henderson.

As the division's line of contenders starts to take order, expect to see the "Cowboy" added to the ranks real soon. 

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