LA MIRADA, Calif. – Fighters love to predict they’re about to deliver a “Fight of the Night” winner ahead of their bouts. It happens all the time.

But sometimes, there’s a fight so anticipated, so good-looking on paper, that they’ll take it a step farther. Such is the case for Donald Cerrone (32-7 MMA, 19-4 UFC) tonight in his UFC 214 fight against former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (27-11 MMA, 12-5 UFC).

Not only does “Cowboy” think it’s tonight’s event’s best fight, but it might just be the best of 2017. Hell, he thinks – maybe it’s the best fight of a 10-year stretch.

“I’ll bet we both meet right there in the middle and throw down,” Cerrone told MMAjunkie earlier this week at a media day ahead of UFC 214. “‘Fight of the Year.’ ‘Fight of the Decade.'”

UFC 214 takes place tonight at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FXX and UFC Fight Pass. Cerrone and Lawler meet on the main card in a fight that has twice been delayed, but finally is coming to fruition on one of the most stacked events in UFC history.

Cerrone has a chance to rebound from a TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal in January, which snapped a four-fight winning streak since moving up to welterweight from his longtime lightweight home. Before the setback, he had four straight finishes and three bonuses in his new division.

Cerrone and Lawler were supposed to fight at UFC 213 earlier this month before Cerrone had to withdraw with a blood infection. Prior to that, they were slated for a UFC 205 fight in New York, but Lawler pulled out to have more time to recover from his UFC 201 title-fight loss to Tyron Woodley.

Tonight will be one year since Lawler lost his title, and one year since he last was in the cage. Because of that, some people seem to be down on him – even though he’s a slight favorite over “Cowboy” in the fight. But Cerrone thinks that’s a mistake.

“This is a fight that’s gonna be talked about for years,” Cerrone said. “I’m sitting here pumping this fight up, and it doesn’t even need it. We’re one of the dying breeds – we’re the last of the true fighters, and we’re going to go out there and show that.

“People suck, right? They talk so much (expletive). When you’re hot, you’re hot. When you lose, they talk (expletive). He’s a stud. He’s a friend of mine. I’ve been watching him for years. He’s one of the true, last dying fighters, and we’re going to go out there and we’re going to (expletive) throw down. This fight is exciting to me, just as it is to you guys. I’ve got a front-seat ticket to it.”

For more from Cerrone ahead of his fight with Lawler, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC 214, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.