UFC Vegas 26: Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono Fight Breakdown

This bout was originally supposed to be a legacy fight between Diego Sanchez and Donald Cerrone. Unfortunately, one thing led to another and the UFC decided to let go of Sanchez before the bout. Cerrone is the perfect guy for this situation because he will take a fight against anyone in the world. We needed someone to step up and give the MMA legend a war. That someone was none other than the 30-year old Alex Morono. Will Morono rise to the occasion to pull off the upset? Check out the full Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono preview below!

Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono Background

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (36-15, 23-12 UFC) enters his 52nd pro MMA fight, with the hopes of ending his first win since 2019. Cerrone holds a 23-12 UFC record after losing four of his last five (1 No Contest). He continues to improve his martial arts skills, but the toll of countless brutal fights are unfortunately catching up to him. The 38-year old has always found ways to reinvent himself in the past and will need to do just that to win. Cerrone comes into this fight looking to bounce back against anyone the UFC put in front of him.

Alex “The Great White” Morono (18-7, 7-4 UFC) signed with the UFC in 2016. Since joining the UFC, Morono has put on several memorable performances. Morono holds a 7-4 UFC record after winning four of his last six. Morono has remained under the radar as he continues to develop into a potential contender. The 30-year old has recently looked like he has been putting it all together; between his dominant grappling and sneaky power on the feet.

Luckily for Morono, he will have the opportunity to display his improvement on Saturday night. He will have to be careful, because “Cowboy” is as experienced and dangerous as they come. What he will lack in experience, Morono will make up in an athleticism advantage. Let’s dive into the Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono fight breakdown below.

Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono Fight Breakdown

Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono is a stylistic masterpiece between two fighters always ready for a war. Since joining the UFC in 2011, Cerrone has been a well-rounded fighter that can be dangerous anywhere the fight goes. Despite his recent slump, Cerrone comes into this fight with 10 KO/TKOs and 17 submission wins. His ability to to remain calm through brutal fights and still execute his game plan has brought him to where he is today. Unfortunately, he has struggled against the best fighters in the world as he continues to get older. Cerrone comes into this matchup with an experience and skill advantage that could lead to a big win on Saturday night.

On the other side of the octagon, Alex Morono looks to pull off the upset on short notice. Morono has shown flashes of potential that will be tested against Cerrone. He comes into this fight with 5 KO/TKOs, 6 submissions, and 5 decision wins. Morono is a BJJ black belt with reliable cardio and sneaky power.

Although Morono took this fight on short notice, it should be noted that Morono last fought Anthony Pettis. Morono lost the fight but gained experience against a striking veteran like Cerrone. His main advantages in this fight will be his athleticism and power. Cerrone is a dangerous striker but has not finished anyone in six fights. If he can take some tough shots and throw out more volume, Morono may be able to catch Cerrone off guard and come out with the upset win.

Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono Final Thoughts

The biggest factor in this fight is easily the short notice acceptance from Alex Morono. Despite being younger and having more recent success, Morono comes in as a +160 underdog. Cerrone has not looked like himself recently, but to be fair it was against some of the best fighters in the UFC. The winner of this fight is going to come down to striking volume. Both fighters have brawler tendencies that could turn this fight into an all-out war. Cerrone should be able to pull it out by decision, but underestimating Morono would be a foolish mistake.

How do you see Donald Cerrone vs Alex Morono playing out? Drop your predictions in the comments below!

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