UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone’s planned return to the Octagon appears to be a serious endeavor after his return to the Drug-Free Sport testing pool.
Donald Cerrone re-entered the Drug-Free Sport testing pool this week as he plots an eventual return to the Octagon in 2025. After his UFC 276 retirement fight against Jim Miller at UFC 276, few believed Cerrone would ever return to the cage after attaining a successful career in film.
But as 2024 draws to a close and the new year approaches, the 41-year-old Cerrone is serious about a return to fighting. While he hasn’t called out any specific opponents for his comeback fight, he was recently called out by a UFC Tampa winner.
After Cerrone’s name popped up on the latest Drug-Free Sport testing pool roster, it didn’t take long for the UFC legend to address what’s next.
Donald Cerrone searching for ‘better ending’ in planned return
“It’s not a Comeback!! Just a better Ending,” Cerrone said in an Instagram post.
In an appearance on The Pacman Jones Show, Cerrone expanded on his decision to end his retirement and return to the Octagon.
“I promised the wife. No matter what happens, no matter the outcome, two more and that’s it,” Cerrone said. “I think it will be 185 [pounds], we’ll see how my weight maintains when I start picking up training.”
Cerrone hasn’t competed at middleweight during his career after stints at lightweight and welterweight. But after significant weight gains after his retirement, a 185-pound return to the cage probably makes the most sense.
UFC CEO Dana White isn’t thrilled about the idea of Cerrone returning to the Octagon, but he and the matchmakers might book him a fight soon.
Donald Cerrone targets controversial comeback in new weight class
Cerrone entered the UFC Hall of Fame last year alongside Anderson Silva, José Aldo, and Jens Pulver. He’s defeated the likes of Mike Perry, Matt Brown, and Benson Henderson during his storied career.
Cerrone is looking to snap a lengthy winless skid as he returns to the Octagon in 2025. His last win was a unanimous decision nod over Al Iaquinta in May 2019.
Since then, Cerrone has lost fights against Conor McGregor, Anthony Pettis, and Justin Gaethje. His UFC finale against Miller ended by second-round submission.
As of this writing, it appears Cerrone is inching closer to a UFC comeback. Whether or not he’ll be triumphant in his comeback remains to be seen, but he’s doing everything possible to get a fight from the matchmakers.