LAS VEGAS — Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone decided it was finally time to ride off into the sunset.
Cerrone (36-17) retired from the sport of mixed martial arts on Saturday, immediately following a loss to Jim Miller at UFC 276. Before the bout, Cerrone said he intended to fight two more times beyond this weekend, but he opted to call it a career instead.
“I don’t love it anymore,” Cerrone said. “I’m going to be a movie star, baby.”
Cerrone, 39, who has dabbled in acting in recent years, is one of the most beloved fighters of the past decade. He was a fan favorite in the WEC from 2007 to 2010, when the promotion was dissolved into the UFC. He has 23 wins in the UFC, tied for second-most all time.
Fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cerrone was best known for his “anyone, anywhere, anytime” attitude toward fighting. He was one of the most active fighters on the UFC’s roster during his prime and was willing to fight any opponent the UFC booked against him.
However, Cerrone came up short in some of the biggest fights of his career, including three WEC title fights, one UFC title fight and a blockbuster event against Conor McGregor in 2020. Cerrone was very open about his battles with “off nights,” which endeared him even more to his fans.
Cerrone finishes his career with 48 appearances between the WEC and UFC combined, more than any other fighter history. He also won 18 “Fight of the Night” bonuses, tied with Charles Oliveira for the most all time.