Dana White doesn’t like the thought of Donald Cerrone popping out of retirement.
On Tuesday, “Cowboy” Cerrone introduced that he intends to finish his retirement and return to the UFC for 2 extra fights. The 41-year-old’s announcement was principally met with enthusiasm from followers and fellow fighters, however the UFC CEO was not amongst them. Actually, White was unequivocal in his dislike for Cerrone coming again to MMA.
“I hate it. I hate it,” White mentioned at his post-Contender Collection media scrum on Tuesday. “Love him, hate that.
“He retired. For what? What’s left to show? If you wish to earn money, let’s determine one thing else out. I hate it. When guys retire, they retire for a cause. They don’t simply retire as a result of — they retire as a result of they comprehend it’s over. They know it’s.
“Not simply this sport however any skilled sport, is tough to stroll away from. Not simply the cash — that’s clearly a really exhausting a part of it — however the feeling of strolling out of that tunnel, the sensation of getting within the cage and the place is packed. Have a look at each time we’re at a present and we present Cowboy Cerrone on the display screen, the place goes nuts. He’s beloved. He’s beloved as a result of the man goes to struggle, and he’s been in wars for years, and it’s time to not go to struggle anymore. There’s nothing left to show for him.”
Cerrone is without doubt one of the most adorned fighters in UFC historical past, with quite a few promotional data to his title. After retiring from the game in 2022, he was inducted within the UFC Corridor of Fame in 2023 within the Trendy wing. Nevertheless, the tip of Cerrone’s profession left a lot to be desired as he misplaced six of his last seven fights, with solely a No-Contest in between the losses.
White isn’t certain precisely why Cerrone desires to return but when it’s a matter of cash, White says they will all the time determine one thing else out.
“I’d fairly work one thing else out with him, determine one other means,” White mentioned. “If it’s about cash, then he can do one thing else. As a result of he ain’t going to struggle for the remainder of his life and he’s all the time going to wish to earn money. So let’s determine that out now as an alternative of three years from now.”
Based mostly on Cerrone’s statements although, it doesn’t look like cash is the first motivator. “Cowboy” presently has 48 fights in his profession in both the UFC or WEC, and explicitly famous he’d wish to make it to 50.
However White seems to be extra involved with Cerrone’s longterm well being than anything, and it doesn’t look like “Cowboy” will get his want except he can change White’s thoughts.
“Cerrone shouldn’t take into consideration preventing once more,” White mentioned. “Cerrone wants to consider what’s subsequent. He ought to have been occupied with it two years in the past however apparently he didn’t, and he must. However we’re right here for him. We love Cerrone. We’ll assist in any means we are able to. I don’t wish to see him get punched within the face anymore.”
