Will Dana White talk Donald Cerrone into retirement?
Before “Cowboy” had his match-up against Niko Price at UFC Vegas 11, the UFC President made it clear that Cerrone needed to beat the welterweight as everything was on the line.
Fast forward to UFC Vegas 11, and Cerrone and Price ended up going to a draw. However, If it wasn’t for a point deduction to Price due an eye poke, “Cowboy” would’ve lost via split decision. White agreed with the fight results; however, the UFC President wasn’t impressed with Cerrone’s overall performance and plans on talking to the veteran about retirement (Transcript courtesy of MMA Junkie):
“I thought it was a draw, too,” White said after the event. “He was on his way out in the first 30 seconds of the first round. He fought back. He’s tough. He’s durable. I love ‘Cowboy’ and I know it’s going to (expletive) crush him and break his heart. It’s time to have a conversation. I need to talk to him. He and I need to have a conversation.”
On the other hand, Cerrone still doesn’t appear ready to talk about retirement as the veteran acknowledged his weak performance following his fight Saturday night, but he still has no intentions on hanging up the gloves anytime soon:
“I just need to figure out something that I’m doing wrong,” he explained. “There’s no way I’m looking or talking of retirement. I’m just talking taking a few months off to (expletive) regroup and figure some (expletive) out. That’s all.
I’ve gotta do something. I’m gonna fight Niko again. … We’re gonna run it back again and I’m going to do everything I can in my power to come prepared. I’ll be fighting for my job, literally. So hopefully that lights the fire under my ass that I need.”