Donald Cerrone

Donald Anthony Cerrone (born March 29, 1983), known professionally by his nickname "Cowboy", is an American retired mixed martial artist, actor, and former professional kickboxer.

He competed in the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and was known and respected by fans for his willingness to fight any time, having completed 38 fights in his 11 year UFC tenure.

Cerrone was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2023.

Cerrone was born in Denver, Colorado and is of Irish and Italian descent.

At a young age, Cerrone was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder but never received treatment for it.

Growing up he was considered a troubled child.

He would eventually start street fighting and would often end up in jail overnight.

When Cerrone was about 16 his parents were fed up with his behavior and sent him off to go live with his paternal grandmother Jerry Cerrone.

Donald claimed that Jerry took him in with open arms.

She would sometimes bail Donald and his friends out of jail after they got into another fight and according to Cerrone himself that the next morning she would never bring up exactly what happened the night before, she would just repeat the phrase "you know what you did" and leave it at that.

Cerrone attended Air Academy High School, where he began professional bull riding.

At the age of 20, by advise of a friend, Cerrone began training in kickboxing and then later Muay Thai.

After winning a few kickboxing competitions, Cerrone pursued a career in mixed martial arts (MMA).

Cerrone began his career in Commerce City, Colorado at a gym called Freedom Fighters.

In 2006, Cerrone began training with Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, Nathan Marquardt, Keith Jardine, Georges St-Pierre, Leonard Garcia, Tom Watson and other skilled MMA fighters at Greg Jackson's Submission Fighting Gaidojutsu school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Cerrone was signed to fight in the WEC.

His first fight in the promotion was against Kenneth Alexander.

Originally a win via submission in 56 seconds of the first round, the decision was changed to a no-contest when Cerrone tested positive hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic.

Cerrone was scheduled to face Rich Crunkilton at WEC 34, but Crunkilton was forced off the card with an injury and replaced by Danny Castillo.

Cerrone won the bout via armbar in the first round.

Cerrone then faced Rob McCullough at WEC 36 on November 5, 2008.

He won the bout via unanimous decision.

The performance earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award.

On January 25, 2009, at WEC 38 he fought WEC Lightweight Champion, Jamie Varner, losing via technical split decision.

The fight was highly competitive and won the Fight of the Night award.

However, the fight was stopped prematurely in the fifth round when Cerrone hit Varner's temple with an illegal knee while Varner was still on the ground.

Varner was given time to recover, but he was unable to continue, noting that he had double vision and had sustained a broken hand.

Cerrone was again scheduled to face Rich Crunkilton on June 7, 2009, at WEC 41, but Crunkilton was forced off the card with an injury and replaced by James Krause.

Cerrone defeated Krause via first round submission.

Cerrone and Varner had agreed to a rematch, tentatively at WEC 43, but Varner was unable to receive medical clearance as a result from his hand injury.

Cerrone fought Benson Henderson for the WEC Interim Lightweight Championship on October 10, 2009, at WEC 43 in San Antonio, Texas, losing by unanimous decision.

Both fighters were awarded the Fight of the Night bonus award.

Cerrone credited Henderson for being "a hell of a fighter" and conceded that he was slow to start the action, which may have cost him the match.

Cerrone faced Ed Ratcliff on December 19, 2009, in the event headliner at WEC 45.

Cerrone defeated Ratcliff via third round submission.

The bout also earned Cerrone Fight of the Night honors.

Cerrone fought Benson Henderson in a rematch of their 2009 Fight of the Year, this time for the WEC Lightweight Championship on April 24, 2010, at WEC 48.

Cerrone lost via first-round guillotine choke submission.

Cerrone faced rival Jamie Varner in their highly anticipated rematch on September 30, 2010, at WEC 51.

He won the fight via unanimous decision, winning all three rounds.