UFC President Dana White (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
2017 Getty Images
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is committed to his comeback in the UFC.
During his podcast, Cerrone informed Adam “Pac-Man” Jones that he is back in the UFC’s testing pool. He stated that he needs to remain clean for six months and is targeting a return in June or July.
When news of Cerrone’s return attempt surfaced in October, UFC President Dana White was asked for his opinion. White expressed his dislike for Cerrone’s decision, emphasizing that he retired for a reason and should consider alternative ways to earn money instead of returning to fighting.
Here is the revised text after applying GPS rules for grammar, punctuation, and spelling corrections while preserving the original tone:
A clip showing this exchange took place during the post-event press conference following an episode of Season 8 of the Dana White Contender Series.
White also expressed his concern about seeing Cerrone sustain further damage.
Cerrone has been transparent about his past use of steroids and peptides during his break from fighting. He has emphasized feeling prepared and eager to have two more UFC fights, bringing his total under the Zuffa banner to 50.
However, Cerrone acknowledges the necessity to detox from the performance-enhancing substances he had used, which are permissible for civilians but prohibited for athletes in combat sports.
Former UFC champion and current analyst Daniel Cormier has been openly critical of Cerrone’s decision to return to the Octagon.
Despite facing criticism from his peers and the UFC president, Cerrone remains determined. White’s concerns are valid.
Cerrone’s UFC career took a downturn, culminating in a nine-fight winless streak. His only non-win during this period was a no-contest against Niko Price in September 2020, preventing him from a more severe decline than Tony Ferguson.
Despite retiring without a championship, Cerrone was recognized in the UFC Hall of Fame for his exciting and durable fighting style. He accumulated 21 performance bonuses and fought for a title twice, once in WEC and once in the UFC.
If Cerrone makes a return, he has mentioned the possibility of competing in the middleweight division. Potential opponents could include Ferguson, McGregor, Diaz, Masvidal, or a promising newcomer.
Cerrone’s comeback fight could be a highlight of the International Fight Week in Las Vegas, showcasing his enduring popularity among fans.
