Cowboy assesses stoppage and his future
“Maybe it’s better for the longevity for me and my boy here. Maybe he didn’t beat me retarded, so that’s good.”
UFC lightweight contender Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone was stopped in Round 1 by his friend Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 16 on Saturday night. It was his second loss in a row. At the post-fight press conference, he discussed what happened, and what he wants to make happen in future.
Immediately post-loss, Cerrone complained to referee Jerin Valel that the stoppage was too soon. Moments beforehand Gaethje had pointedly complained that the stoppage was too late. Such is the thankless lot of refereeing in our sport. However, Cerrone upon reflection saw the good in it.
Man, I ain’t making any excuses, said Cerrone, as transcribed by Ryan Harkness for MMA Mania. The ref clearly thought I couldn’t continue, so … that’s the way this game is. Sometimes, you get the ref that lets you get pounded in. Sometimes, the one that won’t. I got the one that wouldn’t. So maybe it’s better for the longevity for me and my boy here. Maybe he didn’t beat me retarded, so that’s good.
Cerrone is now 36-13-1, a total of 50 fights. He is far from done with the sport.
I want fifty [wins]! he said. Fifty is the number I want, so I’ve got news for my coaches and corners – there’s going to be a lot more ups and downs and sidewaysies. When you’re winning, everyone wants to know, ‘What are you doing so special that you win?’ And then when you lose, everyone’s like, ‘What didn’t you do?’ Nothing, man. I trained hard. I trained my ass off. It just didn’t work out, so we’re going to go to the drawing board and we’re going to fix these things.
Like I said, I love this and I’m not going anywhere. This isn’t a fight where ‘Ah man, I’m thinking about retirement, guys.’ I’m gonna go home, I’m gonna … maybe work on head movement, something. Whatever shot he got me with. And I’m gonna call, I’m gonna get another fight scheduled, and you’re gonna see me again, we’re gonna be talking in this scrum again and I’m gonna be like ‘Man, I f***in’ love this. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.’
I’m going to get the belt, it’s going to happen. I guess I just slid down the rung a little bit, but I’m going to come back, I’m gonna to train hard, and I’m going to get it. It’s the last thing I’ve got to do with my legacy. You can have the greatest legacy in the world but if I don’t have a belt it just falls a little short. So now, me, reflecting on everything, that’s one thing I want.
If the belt is never strapped around his waist, will Cerrone be crushed?
Nah. I tried, he replied. It’s something I can teach my boy. Man, I tried. I gave it hell, baby.