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UFC star Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone was shockingly knocked out on Saturday night in the latest UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas, and it seems after witnessing the stoppage the entire MMA world was focused on what could be coming next for Cerrone: retirement.
Alex Morono was a late-notice replacement to fight Cerrone at UFC Vegas 26, but Morono, 30, blitzed the 38-year-old legend to score a stunning first-round knockout almost nobody saw coming.
You can see the surprising end to the fight below.
Short notice was no problem for @alexmoronomma, who finished Cowboy Cerrone late in the first round at #UFCVegas26 😯
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Cerrone Doesn’t Want Career to End
After his loss, Cerrone claimed this wouldn’t be the last time fans see him in the UFC. Cerrone revealed his way of thinking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
Per the journalist, “Spoke to Cowboy, he tells me this was not his final fight and he doesn’t feel done, but acknowledges his performances say otherwise. Said he’ll have to watch tape, talk to his team and UFC. Whenever it IS his last fight, he believes he’ll make that known before his final walk.”
Spoke to Cowboy, he tells me this was not his final fight and he doesn’t feel done, but acknowledges his performances say otherwise. Said he’ll have to watch tape, talk to his team and UFC. Whenever it IS his last fight, he believes he’ll make that known before his final walk.
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‘Probably Done’ and Other Reactions to Cerrone’s Loss
Still, Cerrone continuing to fight on didn’t seem to be what most fans were thinking about after Cerrone got wrecked by Morono.
One fan suggested Cerrone was on his way to getting cut by the company.
The UFC to Donald Cerrone after his fifth loss
Meanwhile, TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter added some vital data to that theory. The journalist won’t be in the UFC’s meeting rooms to help decide the matter, but he did correctly note just how futile Cerrone has seemed inside the Octagon as of late.
He posted, “Cerrone falls to 0-5, 1 NC in his last six. It’s tough to watch because he looks good in his fights until he doesn’t.”
Cerrone falls to 0-5, 1 NC in his last six.
It’s tough to watch because he looks good in his fights until he doesn’t.
Another user’s tweet embodied how some fight fans might be feeling right now knowing that it might be time for “Cowboy” to walk off into the sunset.
He’s one of the most popular contenders in the sport, but maybe his time has passed.
Me coming to terms with the fact Cowboy Cerrone might be done:
An example of just how revered Cerrone is in the MMA world comes from BJ Penn’s Cole Shelton. The writer posted his thoughts and feelings about Cerrones’ career and claimed “Cowboy” was the sole reason he even became an MMA writer in the first place.
He said, “Cowboy Cerrone is THE reason why I started watching MMA and ended up covering it as my job. I remember walking home from elementary school and watching his WEC fights with my Dad on The Fight Network. Always love watching him fight for that reason.”
Cowboy Cerrone is THE reason why I started watching MMA and ended up covering it as my job. I remember walking home from elementary school and watching his WEC fights with my Dad on The Fight Network. Always love watching him fight for that reason. #UFCVegas26
Regardless, Sporting News’ Andreas Hale sure seems to believe Cerrone needs to stop fighting.
Donald Cerrone is now winless in his last six fights (5 losses and 1 No Contest). He’s been stopped four times. It’s time for Cowboy to ride off into the sunset.
Look, Cerrone doesn’t plan on retiring from the UFC, but he might not have the choice.
He’s been one of the most popular stars among the hardcore MMA audience, and he’s one of the most active UFC fighters in history. But no one is safe from being cut by the company when it stops making financial sense for them to keep letting a fighter compete.
Cerrone might not want his UFC career to be over, but it might end up that way anyway.
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