WEC in December: Horodecki and Cerrone look to get back on the winning road
Published by Zach Arnold on December 1st, 2009 in Current Events

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When we last saw Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone fighting, he was twisting Ben Henderson like a pretzel in the WEC cage.

Their fight was supposed to happen on September 2nd in Youngstown, Ohio. However, Versus and DirecTV had a major split-up and the WEC show was postponed to October 10th in San Antonio, Texas. Given the challenging circumstances, the two men proceeded to put on a top-notch Fight of the Year bout in a year where WEC has produced an extraordinary amount of quality fights for fans who have cable television.

For Cerrone, the decision loss to Henderson was heartbreaking — mainly because a lot of spectators thought Cerrone won the fight, including WEC GM Reed Harris. I certainly thought Cerrone won the fight, but Henderson was awarded the win and #1 contendership for Jamie Varner’s WEC Lightweight title. Varner, who has bad blood with Cerrone, has been feeling the heat from fans who felt that the champion was faking blurred vision from a knee he took from Cerrone in the fifth round of their fight. The end result was Varner winning by decision and a pissed off crowd in San Diego. 2009 has been the year of hard luck for The Cowboy, but he looks to bounce back against Ed “9mm” Ratcliff on December 19th in Las Vegas.

In an interview on the Versus web site, Cerrone talked about the challenges he has already stared down and what’s ahead for him in the future.

“I do, man, definitely just like you said you know my last what two with Jamie (Varner) and (Ben Henderson) ended kinda so-so so you know I do have something to prove, to let people come out and know that I’m still here.

I’m very excited, man, um, lot of talks you know, [Ratcliff's] a stand-up guy, he’s going to come out and we’re just going, I’m not going to take him down, he ain’t going to take me down, we’re just going to draw a line and go so.”

As Dick Vitale would say, it was heartbreak city when Cerrone lost by decision over Henderson. Has he recovered from that loss?

“Yeah, I was over it that night you know I knew when they when it was over like man there’s things I should have done like laying down while he’s pounding me I should have got up you know so it’s something I need to work on and my hats off to the guy, he did what he had to do but I’m coming back you know so it’s the cool thing about fighting, you just evolve and go on, man, you’re always there so.”

Man, looking back, what I remember in my head you know there’s a couple second, third round he did what he had to do you know, I think I won the championship rounds (fourth and fifth) so it’s kinda just on who won the first round you know but uh hey man, they gave it to him, he won and shit!”

Did he overlook Henderson?

“Well, no, I mean Varner was the reason I got to get ready to get through Ben so I wouldn’t say I looked past him but no I mean nah, no way.”

Despite losing to both Varner and Henderson this year, the Cowboy wants to fight one person and one person only.

“Oh, Varner, for sure, 100%. Uh, do I want to punch him in the face every time I see him? No. But do I want in the cage and whip that ass? Yes!

I’m just tired of just always I mean I just to have to let it go you know what I mean, he’s kind of out of the spotlight for me so I need to get back and then come after him so.”

Another fighter on the December 19th card who is on the comeback trail is The Polish Hammer, Chris Horodecki. Horodecki was one of the few stars the IFL managed to create (along with Roy Nelson and Ben Rothwell). Horodecki was touted as a prodigy, as a young genius who could not be stopped. After he lost to Ryan Schulz, Horodecki’s career has been in flux. He’s had nerve problems that had to be taken care of. Then he saw Affliction fold and that put him in limbo until he recently signed with WEC. The move is a great fit for both parties and will allow Horodecki to mature as a fighter while not getting any cupcake opponents. Horodecki is a TV-friendly fighter and you can expect fireworks on the 19th when he faces opponent Anthony Njokuani.

“Um, you know, he’s done well for himself you know he’s fought some tough opponents, good stand-up, um… but you know I’m coming, I’m going to be ready, I’m going to be ready for that night. I think it’s a great fight, I think it’s a treat for the fans, you’re going to see you know two bangers go at it, um, two skilled bangers and you know that’s what I’m saying, the WEC is going to be one of the hot spots for the Lightweights now.”

In an interview with F a n h o u s e . c o m, Horodecki reflected on what he’s been through and why he thinks he’s ready to rock in 2010.

“Yeah, it’s been a crazy roller coaster for me since Affliction folded, you know since they called it in August, up and down every organization you know my manager’s were talking to, everybody you know negotiations deals that went on for you know a while, um, but finally you know we got settled with the WEC you know, a great deal, and I think it’s a great place for me to you know to build myself and you know to definitely become a star you know in their Lightweight division.”

Why the inactivity? Why not sign with Strikeforce?

“Yeah, that was exactly the thing you know, we wanted to make the right move and like I said, every company was coming up to us, right? So, we kind just had to you know play with the deals basically and I stay out of that and I just let my manager take care of that and I got a great manager, Robert Roveta, and he takes care of that.

I think [WEC] kind of you know want to build their Lightweight division, you know I think the UFC has already got their Gray Maynards, they got their BJs, they got their stars and I think that in the WEC their Lightweight division’s kind of has been lacking, you know they got their very strong 135, very strong 145. But um, yeah I think what we need is you know somebody to go out there in the 155 and mix it up and I really hope I can be you know light it up there.”

Is he happy or unhappy with not signing directly to fight in UFC?

“You know I got my boy Sammy’s there (Sam Stout), he’s there you know it’s kind of nice, we’re all split up and um you know me, Hominick, and Stout we’re all Zuffa family now so it’s pretty cool.

You know, this is um I’m a part of one of the best you know shows in the world right now you know and it was supposed to be Affliction that people were going to see me and it just kind of didn’t happen, not by my fault, you know I was trying you know every way I could to be out there, um, but now you know now I got my home and I’m happy you know I’m settled, I got my home and I’m here, I’m ready to rock.”

Will he be truly healthy going into his WEC debut fight?

“Going into that fight (against Lauzon in Affliction) I knew I was injured but you know like I said I tried to fight, probably shouldn’t have, but the doctor wouldn’t clear me you know he saw something was up but now I’m back, I did a lot of therapy, a lot of treating you know with my injury and I’m back 100% now, ready to rock.

One of the just nerves, a pinched nerve just shooting down my arm, I couldn’t feel my hand and very… it was a common injury for wrestlers you know just compression, the discs in your back always get you know squeezed so it sucks, it sucks, but you know you just got to take it as it is you know and move on.

Oh I’m back, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to rock, you know I was very fortunate after the last fight I came out scotch-free you know, ready to go and was ready for Affliction, came right back into camp. You know I’m in Vegas, I’m at the Tapout gym, home of Team Tompkins now, we got a great thing going here, um, the coach you know he’s got his things, his camp set up here and I think you’re going to see some future champs for sure.”

Expect nothing less than championship gold around the waist of The Polish Hammer during his stay in the WEC.