Donald Cowboy Cerrone is basically the personification of the "anyone, anywhere, anytime" mantra that people love to throw around in MMA circles. Most guys say it for the cameras. Cowboy lived it. For over a decade, the man was the UFC’s ultimate emergency contact. If a main event fell through on a Tuesday, Donald was usually on his ranch in New Mexico, probably mid-way through a wakeboarding session or a scuba dive, answering the phone with a "yeah, I'll be there."
Honestly, the sport hasn't felt quite the same since he laid his hat in the center of the Octagon back in 2022. But if you’ve been following the news lately, that retirement was more of a "see you later" than a goodbye. At 42 years old, the Hall of Famer is eyeing a comeback that has the entire MMA world split right down the middle. He wants 50 fights under the Zuffa banner. He’s currently sitting at 48.
The Numbers That Built the Cowboy Myth
To understand why Donald Cowboy Cerrone matters so much, you have to look at the sheer volume of his work. We aren't just talking about a long career. We’re talking about a statistical anomaly.
Cerrone has 36 professional wins. He’s spent nearly six hours of his life inside the UFC Octagon. Think about that for a second. That is six hours of world-class athletes trying to take your head off or snap your arm. He’s tied for some of the most prestigious records in the promotion's history, including 23 UFC wins and 18 post-fight bonuses. For a long time, he held the record for most finishes (16) until Charles Oliveira went on his tear.
It’s not just that he fought often; it’s who he fought.
Look at his resume. It’s a literal Hall of Fame ballot. He’s shared the cage with Benson Henderson, Eddie Alvarez, Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, and Conor McGregor. He didn't cherry-pick. He didn't wait for "the right matchup." If the UFC sent a contract, he signed it. That’s why he was the perfect choice for the 2023 Hall of Fame class. He represents an era where fighters were prized for their activity rather than their ability to manipulate the rankings.
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The BMF Ranch and the Lifestyle
Donald Cowboy Cerrone didn't just fight; he built a culture. His BMF Ranch in Edgewood, New Mexico, became a legendary spot in the MMA world. It’s a 500-acre playground that doubled as a high-performance training center. Imagine a place where you wake up, feed the horses, go for a run in the high-desert air, and then spar with some of the baddest dudes on the planet in a custom-built gym.
That was life for "Cowboy."
He’s always been open about how much he hated the actual "fighting" part—the nerves, the waiting in the locker room, the "puking in the bucket" before walking out. But he loved the life it provided. He’s a guy who loves fast cars, high-altitude diving, and professional bull riding (which is where the nickname actually came from back in high school).
Why the Comeback Now?
So, why come back? Why risk the legacy?
Cerrone has been very transparent about his post-career use of TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) and peptides. He looks like he’s carved out of granite lately. He admitted that the itch never really went away, and that number 50—the 50th fight under the Zuffa (WEC/UFC) umbrella—has been haunting him. He needs two more to hit the milestone.
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- Current Zuffa Count: 48 fights.
- The Goal: 50.
- The Hurdles: Re-entering the drug testing pool and proving he can still compete with the young lions of the lightweight or welterweight divisions.
He’s already re-entered the testing pool as of late 2024/early 2025. He has to be "clean" for six months before he can step back in. We are looking at a potential return in mid-to-late 2025 or early 2026.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cerrone
The common narrative is that Cerrone "choked" in the big fights. People point to the Rafael dos Anjos title fight or the McGregor blowout.
That’s a casual take.
The reality is that Donald Cowboy Cerrone was a perennial top-five contender in the deepest division in the world (Lightweight) for almost a decade. You don’t get 23 wins in the UFC by accident. He was a slow starter, sure. He needed to find his rhythm. But his Muay Thai was some of the most technical the sport has ever seen. His switch-knee and head kicks were legendary.
And don't forget his ground game.
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With 17 submission wins, he was just as dangerous on his back as he was on his feet. He wasn't a "choker"; he was a fighter who operated on volume. When you fight 4 or 5 times a year against the best in the world, you’re going to lose some. Most fighters protect their records. Cowboy protected his lifestyle by staying active.
Looking Ahead: The Final Ride
If Cerrone actually makes it back to the Octagon in 2026, the matchmaking will be crucial. No one wants to see him fed to a top-five contender like Arman Tsarukyan. Fans want "legacy" fights.
Imagine Cowboy vs. Jim Miller in a rematch. Miller is the only other guy with that kind of longevity and win count. It’s the perfect "old school" matchup. Or maybe a fun scrap with another veteran who just wants to throw down without worrying about the title picture.
The mission is clear: get to 50, secure the legacy, and finally ride off into the New Mexico sunset for good.
What you should do next to keep up with the Cowboy:
- Follow his Instagram: He posts regular updates on his training and his "clean out" process from TRT.
- Watch the Hall of Fame speech: If you haven't seen his 2023 induction, go find it. It's one of the most emotional and honest moments in the sport's history.
- Track the Testing Pool: Keep an eye on the official UFC anti-doping database. When his name shows six months of clean tests, you know the fight announcement is imminent.