Donald Cerrone plans to turnover a new Featherweight leaf in the New Year.

"Cowboy" -- who stands nearly 6' -- announced earlier this evening during a "UFC 20 Years" online chat with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fans that he intends to test his mixed martial arts (MMA) skills against much smaller men.

"I just think I can really dominate down there," said Cerrone. "Most people lose a lot of fights and they run down. I'm going to go to 145 after a win and see. I'll still be at 55, though, I'll play back-and-forth. Why not? Go get the belt."

Cerrone is a 10-fight Lightweight veteran inside the Octagon, collecting six "Fight Night" bonuses during that span. He has been victorious on seven of those occasions and often flirted with top 155-pound contender status.

However, huge losses to Nate Diaz -- who next went on to compete for a division title -- and then Anthony Pettis -- who next went on to win the belt -- have dashed his championship opportunities. But, perhaps, his most recent unanimous decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 27 made him think that a change of scenery will do the trick.

And he knows making the 145-pound division limit is no walk in the park.

"[145 pounds] is going to be a lifestyle change," Cerrone admitted. "No more Bud Light and Budweiser's. No more eating random food. No more late nights with Dave Sholler eating at Wendy's. Those are all things that are going to have to change."

Cerrone is already lined up to fight Evan Dunham in a Lightweight match set for UFC 167, which takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Nov. 16, 2013. Cerrone and Dunham will headline the pay-per-view (PPV) "Prelims" portion of the under card, a demotion of sorts for an exciting fighter who is accustomed to primetime placement.

Once the match concludes, Cerrone plans to make the drop win, lose or draw. And he already has the blessing of key company executives.

"I've talked to the PR team and [matchmaker] Sean Shelby," Cerrone said. "And he's like,'As long as you can make the weight healthy, we don't want to see you in there dying.' Kenny Florian made it, I'll probably look worse than him. Tell Mike Dolce, and I want it for free, this will be the ultimate test."

He might look worse than Florian, but hopefully Cerrone has better results.