UFC veteran Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone has announced that he’s set to end his retirement and return to the octagon; a decision that has been widely condemned by the global MMA community.
It’s not just UFC fans and fighters who are slamming the comeback announcement either, with current Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen now adding his name to the long list of athletes who don’t want to see the ‘Cowboy’ riding back into battle.
Johnny Eblen slams Donald Cerrone over controversial return from retirement
Undefeated American middleweight Johnny Eblen put on a fabulous performance this past weekend as he defended his Bellator championship title in a rematch against British striker, Fabian Edwards.
Speaking to media members after the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants came to an end, Eblen would be asked about his thoughts on Donald Cerrone announcing his UFC comeback.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to retire, take a bunch of steroids and then come back and fight again,” stated the 16-0 world champion, adding how “It’s not a good look” for either the promotion or for the sport as a whole.
Cerrone celebrated his 41st birthday earlier this year and has been open about his use of steroids during his time away; even stating in his announcement video how he has to “come off and p*ss clean.”
“I think Conor [McGregor] paved the way,” claimed Eblen, stating “I think he’s influencing a lot of other people to do it, and I think people are trying to fight past their prime and use all these substances and it’s just not natural.
“It’s not good… “Your brain doesn’t heal from steroids. So, all that CTE just adds up. I’m very against steroids [and] I’m very against people fighting past their prime.”
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Dana White, Daniel Cormier are also against Donald Cerrone’s UFC comeback
Eblen certainly isn’t the only MMA expert who is vehemently against Donald Cerrone fighting again, especially after openly admitting to taking PEDs, including UFC CEO Dana White and former double champion Daniel Cormier.
“I hate it, I hate it, love him, hate that,” lamented the UFC boss at the post-fight press conference for the final episode of Dana White’s Contender Series last week.
“He retired, for what? What’s left to prove? If you want to make money, let’s figure something else out. I hate it. When guys retire, they retire for a reason. They retire because they know it’s over, they know it is.
“Cerrone needs to think about what’s next. He should have been thinking about it two years ago but apparently, he didn’t, and he needs to… But we’re here for him, we love Cerrone, [and] we’ll help in any way we can.”
Former double champion Daniel Cormier would later state via his YouTube channel how the whole situation around Cerrone returning after taking steroids just doesn’t sit right with him.
“For years now, he’s been openly using steroids. I like Donald, but it doesn’t matter what I feel about him as a person, as a buddy, or whatever it is our relationship is today, I don’t quite know what it is, but he’s not been clean.
“And even if he can come back, take tests, pass those tests, for him to get back, he has to do all of those things and all those enhancers to allow for him to feel like he can compete at that level again… It’s not wrong. It’s not illegal. But is it right?”
Cerrone retired with a professional record of 36 wins and 17 defeats; he is also on a six-fight losing streak with five of those being stoppages.