Donald Cerrone Says He Called Dana White ‘Three Times’ Asking for Jorge Masvidal Fight

Jorge Masvidal isn’t especially fond of Donald Cerrone, primarily because on two different occasions “Gamebred” had a marquee opponent lined up only to miss out because “Cowboy” needed a fight.

“‘Cowboy’ took food from my plate twice,” Masvidal said on UFC Tonight. “Twice, I had two bout agreements against top-ranked opponents. For some reason, they didn’t materialize and they ended up giving it to ‘Cowboy.’ Imagine you’re going to fight a top-ranked opponent and he gets swiped from you and given to somebody else. I wanted to hurt somebody, and not I get to hurt somebody and that somebody is ‘Cowboy,’ and he’s got to pay with interest.”

Masvidal has campaigned publicly for a showdown against Cerrone since his first round stoppage of Jake Ellenberger at “The Ultimate Fighter 24” finale in December. While “Gamebred” initially accused Cerrone of ducking him, the Jackson-Wink MMA standout claims that is far from the truth. Cerrone and Masvidal will square off in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 23 at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Saturday night.

“I don’t understand what’s going on. I might’ve taken a couple of his opponents but it’s not my fault when the UFC is looking for someone to take a fight with me or a last minute replacement his name isn’t in the raffle to come up,” Cerrone told the show. “I have no control over that. These last two times they took his opponents and gave them to me. Maybe you need to win more fights and get higher up in the rankings, I don’t know.

“The only reason you have this fight is you were calling me out. So I called [UFC President Dana White] three times and had to give him your name. So, you’re welcome. At least you get half your paycheck.”

Cerrone, a former title challenger at 155 pounds, is quickly working his way into contention in the welterweight division. Finishes of Alex Oliveira, Patrick Cote, Rick Story and Matt Brown have made the Colorado native a person of interest at 170 pounds, but as usual, Cerrone would rather stay active than wait around on the winner of the Tyron Woodley-Stephen Thompson rematch at UFC 209. If all goes as planned on Saturday, Cerrone would prefer to join Woodley and Thompson on that March 4 card and face a top contender.

They’re talking this one [would earn a title shot]. But then I’ve got to wait for those guys on March 4 to win and decide when they’re gonna take another fight,” he said. “So I think I’ll go ahead and fight March 4 with them. Maybe get Robbie [Lawler], Demian Maia or somebody and get a title contention fight then. “