Dana White doesn’t like the concept of Donald Cerrone popping out of retirement.
On Tuesday, “Cowboy” Cerrone announced that he intends to end his retirement and return to the UFC for 2 extra fights. The 41-year-old’s announcement was mostly met with enthusiasm from followers and fellow fighters, however the UFC CEO was not amongst them. In actual fact, White was unequivocal in his dislike for Cerrone coming again to MMA.
“I hate it. I hate it,” White mentioned at his post-Contender Series media scrum on Tuesday. “Love him, hate that.
“He retired. For what? What’s left to show? If you wish to earn cash, let’s determine one thing else out. I hate it. When guys retire, they retire for a purpose. They don’t simply retire as a result of — they retire as a result of they understand 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 onerous 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, the place goes nuts. He’s beloved. He’s beloved as a result of the man goes to conflict, and he’s been in wars for years, and it’s time to not go to conflict anymore. There’s nothing left to show for him.”
Cerrone is likely one of the most adorned fighters in UFC historical past, with plenty of 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. Nonetheless, the top of Cerrone’s profession left a lot to be desired as he misplaced six of his closing seven fights, with solely a No-Contest in between the losses.
White isn’t positive precisely why Cerrone needs to return but when it’s a matter of cash, White says they’ll at all times determine one thing else out.
“I’d fairly work one thing else out with him, work out one other manner,” White mentioned. “If it’s about cash, then he can do one thing else. As a result of he ain’t going to combat for the remainder of his life and he’s at all times going to want to earn cash. So let’s determine that out now as a substitute of three years from now.”
Based mostly on Cerrone’s statements although, it doesn’t seem to be cash is the first motivator. “Cowboy” at present 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 the rest, and it doesn’t seem to be “Cowboy” will get his want except he can change White’s thoughts.
“Cerrone shouldn’t take into consideration combating 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 manner we will. I don’t wish to see him get punched within the face anymore.”
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