Jamie Varner said he's ready to move past – or maybe just store away – the controversy that's marked the build-up to his highly anticipated rematch with Donald Cerrone at next week's WEC 51 event. Varner said he's grown up in the 20 months since their first fight and won't let Cerrone's recent comments get under his skin.
"I feel like I don't need to get caught up in all the name-calling and all the bantering back and forth," Varner today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) during a call promoting the Versus-televised event, which takes place at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo.
A small firestorm erupted this past week when Cerrone gave an interview to Tapout Radio in which he wished death upon Varner and called the former champion a homophobic slur. He apologized shortly afterward on his official Twitter account, and WEC officials issued a statement condemning the fighter's remarks.
Varner said he found out about the controversial interview through Twitter and Facebook and chose to stay silent – despite a history of sparring with Cerrone over the Web.
The two have sniped at one another on and off since their first meeting, which took place at WEC 38 in January 2009 and ended prematurely as a result of an illegal knee Cerrone threw in the fifth and final round (Then-champ Varner, ahead on judges' scorecards, was ruled the winner by technical decision.)
A rematch had been been considered all but certain among those in the know, and WEC officials first considered a second meeting for a late-summer event the same year. However, the promotion ultimately but it on the backburner for the rest of 2009 and much of this year.
Of course, Cerrone has been more vocal in a campaign for a second meeting; he's repeatedly called into question Varner's heart because of the first-fight stoppage. Varner has shifted his focus as of late to a rematch with Ben Henderson, who took his belt in January at WEC 46. A bid to earn a quick contendership went sideways when he fought Kamal Shalorus to an unusual split draw at WEC 49. Meanwhile, Cerrone fell short in a bid for Henderson's belt one event prior at WEC 48.
Varner stressed the rematch with Cerrone is a chance to an answer any questions from the first bout and clear the way for another shot at Henderson.
"I can't let the negative [expletive] drag me down," he said. "I'm on a quest; I just want to get through this fight. I want to get that belt back, and I want to keep moving forward.
"This has been a long time coming. I feel like this animosity and this beef since our first fight [has] kind of catapulted [Cerrone's] career. I definitely feel that our fight together was a good fight; it was a tough fight. It was an epic battle.
"He feels that I looked for the easy way out, when honestly, the doctors wanted to stop the fight. I want to clear the air. I feel good about everything that happened the first time around. I feel like I executed a great game plan. I dominated the fight, and even with the injuries that I incurred, (I) still put on a good performance. Now, with only three rounds, I feel like I can push it even harder and look for the finish."
Cerrone again apologized for his remarks and said he's squared away things with the WEC.
"I just got too deep into talking crap, man," he said. "I'm apologetic. I'm deeply sorry for those comments. Jamie, I wouldn't wish death on you, bro. But come Sept. 30, man, it's on."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Varner responded.
And with that, it was clear that both men are really, really looking forward to Sept. 30.
For the latest on WEC 51, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Jamie Varner)
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