Midnight Mania: Dana Cancels Cowboy Comeback

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Earlier today, UFC Lightweight and Welterweight veteran Donald Cerrone stirred the pot by cancelling his retirement and announcing a UFC comeback. The former title challenger’s announcement was partially expected, because MMA retirements generally don’t last (ask this former “Cowboy” foe). However, given that the retired Hall of Famer was openly taking steroids and enjoying the benefits, it seemed like there were obstacles between the striker and a return to the Octagon.

Well, there’s at least one more. UFC CEO Dana White has always been a fan of Cerrone’s anyone, anywhere attitude and exciting fighting style, but White was less than enthused about the idea of Cerrone back in the Octagon. In fact, he pretty much shut down the whole idea outright when asked about it after Tuesday’s episode of Contenders Series.

“I hate it,” White responded when asked for his feelings about Cerrone’s potential return. “Love him, hate that. He retired, it’s just for what, what’s left to prove? If you want to make money, let’s figure something else out. When guys retire, they retire for a reason. They retire because they know it’s over. You know it is. So, I think that — not just this sport but any professional sport — it’s hard to walk away from. Not just the money, obviously that’s a very hard part of it but the feeling of walking out of that tunnel, the feeling of getting in the cage, and the place is packed.

“Every time we’re at a show, when you show ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone on the screen, the place goes nuts. He’s beloved. He’s beloved because the guy goes to war, and he’s been in wars for years. It’s time to not go to war anymore man, there’s nothing left to prove for him.”

When asked to fully confirm that Cerrone won’t return to the Octagon, White reiterated again, “I’d rather work something else out.”

As White explained, it’s probably for the best that Cerrone doesn’t return to face some UFC young gun to be put out to pasture. If he’s really that motivated to compete again, he could always seek release from his UFC contract and head over to the UFC retirement home that is Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Insomnia

I don’t think there’s any need for Alex Pereira to go back down to Middleweight.

Not a high-level Welterweight affair, but somebody is probably going to sleep.

One of those quotes you can hear perfectly in your mind.

This interview clip confirms something to me that I already assumed: all the trash talk from Shavkat Rakhmonov’s social media is definitely coming from his management.

One Championship lives on. Maybe they’ll start booking their MMA fighters again?

Ben Whittaker ALLEGEDLY forgot about his ankle injury during a fan interaction …

Hasbulla should transcend simple politics.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

The sound of the left hand was like a watermelon popping.

A knockout that brought 59,000 fans to their feet!

It’s good to have Mark Hunt back in action.

Random Land

What UFC fighter is this?

Midnight Music: RIP to the great underground NYC rapper Ka. One of those guys with an underappreciated catalogue and consistently excellent lyricism that never tried to follow trends or worry too much about popularity.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.