Earlier this year, UFC veteran Donald Cerrone stunned the MMA world by announcing the end of his brief retirement. After returning to the Octagon in 2022, fellow veteran Jim Miller submitted Cerrone in a second-round guillotine choke. The loss, his sixth in the last 7 bouts, led many to believe that ‘Cowboy’ would walk away from the sport. However, a shift in his mindset reignited his passion to compete, pushing him toward a potential return.

Initially, Dana White wasn’t fully on board with Cerrone’s decision, saying, “Love him, hate that,” which sparked mixed reactions among fighters and analysts. Unfazed by the criticism, Cerrone recently shared his plans for a comeback at 41, outlining his timeline and commitment to returning to the cage. In a conversation with Dale Brisby, Cerrone revealed, “Oh, well, my six months. So I’ve got to be clean for six months, and that’s conveniently enough for Fourth of July week, International Fight Week.”

Further, Brisby asked Cerrone about his target weight class upon his return. A two-division fighter during his career, Cerrone has previously competed in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions. Now, as he nears the end of his career, Cerrone is indifferent about committing to a specific weight class. Instead, he stated, “We’ll see where my weight goes. You know what I want to do? I don’t want to cut any weight. I just want to show up and fight. So 185 sounds great to me. If I get down to 190, I’ll fight at 170. I don’t know. I’ll see how my body feels and what actually turns out.”

Over his 15-year UFC tenure, Donald Cerrone became renowned for his willingness to fight anytime, anywhere. During the peak of his career, after winning eight consecutive fights, he earned a title shot against then-champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 17. However, dos Anjos’ speed and precision led to Cerrone being knocked out just 66 seconds into the first round, ending his bid for the lightweight title in 2015.

Following that loss, Cerrone transitioned to the welterweight division, while also competing intermittently in the lightweight division. Recently, Cerrone re-entered the USADA testing pool, paving the way for his UFC return next year. That said, the MMA community has become divided: one faction wants to see Cerrone back in action, while the other believes he should retire and enjoy life outside the cage. Let’s see what the UFC head honcho had to say!

Dana White discusses Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone’s UFC comeback

Donald Cerrone is at a stage in his career where most MMA fighters would retire, but Cerrone seems determined to defy the norm. Cerrone is eager to compete once more, setting his sights on his 50th UFC-WEC fight to secure his place in the organization’s history. For ‘Cowboy’, the outcome doesn’t matter—whether he wins or loses, it’s about the journey.

After two years of retirement, Cerrone has announced his comeback. However, Dana White isn’t on board with the decision, stating, “There’s nothing left to prove for him.” White even suggested alternative options if money is a factor, as Cerrone won’t be fighting forever. At the Dana White Contender Series presser, White stated, “I’d rather work something else out with him, figure out another way if it’s about money. He’s not 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.”

What’s your opinion on Cerrone’s comeback? Who do you think would be the ideal opponent for his return? Dana White recently teased something big for 2025 during UFC Tampa, so could we see ‘Cowboy’ making his Octagon return? Share your thoughts below!