Donald Cerrone - sportstiger

Picture Credit: Twitter

MMA legend Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone has decided to hang up his boots after a submission defeat against another veteran fight Jim Miller at UFC 276. With an all-time career record of 35-16, Cerrone placed his gloves and his trademark cowboy hat in the centre of the octagon and announced retirement.

The Denver native has been a professional MMA fighter since 2006 when he first garnered the national spotlight in the WEC. In 2009, he contended for the WEC lightweight title but lost to Jamie Varner. Then in the same year, he competed for an interim title against Benson Henderson but lost a unanimous decision. Cerrone then made his UFC debut in 2011. He kicked off his UFC career with a six-fight winning streak in 13 months.

It was one hell of a career, man: Cerrone

“Thank you, Las Vegas,” Cerrone said after the fight with Joe Rogan in his in-cage interview. “I’m glad my boys got to be here. Here they come now. I don’t love it anymore, Joe. It’s hard for me to get up (for fights), and this is the longest camp I’ve had in a long time. I’m not complaining to anybody, but I don’t love it anymore.

“I’m going to be a movie star, baby. It’s time to bow out. I’ve got to know when. This was the perfect event, man – a sold-out crowd in Las Vegas, talking to you. I’ve got my boys. It was one hell of a career, man. Hopefully one day, I’m in the (UFC) Hall of Fame. Thank you so much, UFC”, he added.

In his legendary career, the Cowboy has fought the likes of Eddie Alvarez, Edson Barboza, Matt Brown, Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos, Leon Edwards, Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, Benson Henderson, Al Iaquinta, Robbie Lawler, Jorge Masvidal Conor McGregor, Miller, Oliveira, Anthony Pettis, Mike Perry and Darren Till.

We're going to miss him: Miller

Jim Miller also addressed Cerrone’s retirement and said, "It's hard to follow that. Donald is a legend. We're going to miss him. You're never going to see the numbers that came into this fight ever again. This is 40 UFC walks for me. It's too many to really count."