Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
For Dana White, it might be the end of the road for veterans Tyron Woodley and Donald Cerrone, after their performances at UFC Vegas 11.
UFC Vegas 11 was supposed to be a night of redemption for veterans Tyron Woodley and Donald Cerrone. Both men entered their fights with losing streaks they hoped to turn around.
Those plans unfortunately failed to materialize. Woodley got a taste of his first stoppage loss in eight years when he injured his rib against Colby Covington. Cerrone, on the other hand, got a majority draw verdict against Niko Price, a decision he looks at as an L on his record.
For UFC president Dana White, part of his job as a promoter is to look after his fighters’ well-being. He plans to do just that, starting with Woodley.
“I think he should start thinking about hanging it up,” White told the media during the post-fight press conference. “He’s had a great career, he’s had a great run, he’s made money.”
White wants the same for “Cowboy,” and he already knows it won’t be an easy conversation to have.
“The win for him tonight was… he was on his way out in the first 30 seconds of the first round,” White said of Cerrone’s performance. “He fought back, he’s tough, he’s durable. I love Cowboy, and I know this is gonna f—ng crush him and break his heart, but it’s time to have a conversation with him.”
“Let’s talk about stopping,” White said when asked what the conversation would be about. “I know what he’s gonna say: ‘I don’t want to stop.’ But we gotta have the conversation.”
Cerrone set numerous records in the UFC, including the most number of victories for any fighter with a total of 23. But like many of his contemporaries, the only accolade he does not have next to his name is a UFC championship.
Woodley, on the other hand, held the 170-pound title for three years through three successful title defenses. He dropped the belt to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 in March 2019.