Dana White says he hates the idea of Donald Cerrone making a return to MMA.
Cerrone announced in an Instagram post on Tuesday that he’s making an octagon return to achieve 50 fights before his career is finished.
Cerrone retired from MMA at UFC 276 in 2022GETTY
‘Cowboy’ has 48 overall appearances in UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting, an MMA promotion that was purchased by Zuffa – the parent company of the UFC – in 2006.
The 41-year-old said he was ‘chasing greatness’ in his social media post, saying he not only wants a win, but wants ‘a finish’ and ‘a bonus’ too.
Cerrone was inducted into the UFC’s Hall of Fame in July 2023, as one the toughest fighters to ever grace the octagon.
He retired from the sport one year before the ceremony, after he was submitted by UFC veteran Jim Miller in the second round of their bout at UFC 276.
Miller is the current record holder for the most fights and wins in UFC history, with 44 and 26 respectively.
Cerrone has contested 38 fights in the UFC with 23 wins, but surpassess Miller if you take his WEC bouts into consideration – although they are not included in the official record book.
Now, ‘Cowboy’ wants to come out of retirement in order to reach 50 fights under the Zuffa banner.
“Love him, hate that,” White said when asked about a potential return to fighting.
“He retired. For what? What’s left to prove? If you want to make money, let’s figure something else out. I hate it.
“When guys retire, they retire for a reason. They don’t just retire because — they retire because they know it’s over. They know it is.
Cerrone fought McGregor in the Irishman’s first bout since his loss to Khabib NurmagomedovGetty Images – Getty
“Not just this sport but any professional sport, is hard to walk away from. Not just the money — that’s obviously a very hard part of it — but the feeling of walking out of that tunnel, the feeling of getting in the cage and the place is packed, everybody’s shouting.
“I mean, every time we’re at a show and we show Cowboy Cerrone on the screen, the place goes nuts. He’s beloved. He’s beloved because the guy goes to war, and he’s been in wars for years, and it’s time to not go to war anymore. There’s nothing left to prove for him.”
Cerrone made his debut with Dana White’s promotion at UFC 126, pulling off one of his trademark submissions to defeat Paul Kelly in February 2011.
He has won 17 of his professional MMA bouts by way of submission and finished 15 of them in the first round.
When asked if we can expect to see Cerrone back in the UFC, White said: “I’d rather work something else out with him, figure out another way.
“If it’s about money then he can do something else because he ain’t going to fight for the rest of his life and he’s always going to need to make money. So let’s figure that out now instead of three years from now.”
‘Cowboy’ finished his career on a six-fight losing streak that included a first-round defeat to Conor McGregor after 40 seconds at UFC 246.
Although his return has been welcomed by many UFC fans, it’s clear to see why UFC President White isn’t at all keen on the proposal.
