Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (36-16 MMA, 23-13 UFC)
Lightweight (155lbs): 17-6 (UFC), Former UFC Lightweight Title Challenger
Welterweight (170lbs): 6-7 (UFC)
Donald Cerrone will be returning to the UFC’s lightweight division for the first time in over six years for his second stint at the weight in the UFC.
Cerrone, who has been competing in the UFC for over 11 years, started out as a 6’1″ tall lightweight when he arrived to the promotion at UFC 126.
A WCC alum, Cerrone had an amazing 2014/2015, going on an eight-fight win streak to become the #2 ranked lightweight in the world and challenge Rafael dos Anjos for the UFC lightweight title.
After an unsuccessful showing, Donald decided to move in a different direction, in the form of cutting a lot less weight. With the move up in weight classes, Cerrone was able to spend less time dieting and more time training and having fun. And in addition, in what would come to be known as ‘Typical Cowboy Fashion’, Cerrone would be able to take a lot more fights on short notice at the 170lb division.
Cowboy made the transition a month shy of his 33rd birthday, then went on a four fight win streak before going 4-4 in his following eight fights.
Cowboy has fought the highest caliber of competition throughout his time as a lightweight and especially as a welterweight in the UFC including numerous champions and intern champions.
Now the recently turned 39-year old, who has not captured a win in his last six professional fights with the UFC, will look to recapture the magic at his former weight class.
Cerrone will be a fighter to watch on the scale, as unfortunately not only is father time working against him in this weight cut but so is inactivity within the cage, which has been rare for the future Hall of Famer’s UFC career.
