One of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most popular athletes will be headed to the Hall of Fame this summer.
The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Saturday that Donald Cerrone will be enshrined in the “Modern Wing’ during a ceremony as part of International Fight Week on July 6 in Las Vegas. An emotional Cerrone was in attendance when the news was revealed at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
“Cowboy Cerrone is one of the best lightweights in UFC history,” UFC president Dana White said. “Cowboy consistently fought the best of the best for over a decade inside the Octagon and set a ton of records in the process. He was also a complete savage who would fight anyone at any time. He is a true legend, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame as part of International Fight Week.”
Cerrone was a lightweight title challenger in both the UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting. He compiled a 36-17 record over the course of a career that began in 2006, earning wins over the likes of Al Iaquinta, Mike Perry, Matt Brown, Patrick Cote, Benson Hendrson, Eddie Alvarez, Jim Miller, Edson Barboza, Melvin Guillard, Jeremy Stephens and Charles Oliveira, to name a few. He announced his retirement following a loss to Miller at UFC 276 in July 2022.
The BMF Ranch Founder holds records for the most combined wins in UFC/WEC history (29) most finishes in UFC/WEC history (20) and most knockdowns in UFC history (20). His 23 wins in UFC competition are tied for the second most in promotion history, and his 38 fights are third most all-time.
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