Cerrone on Taking UFC 249 Fight Before Knowing Opponent: ‘It’s Time to Do Cowboy S---‘

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Ultimate Fighting Championship mainstay Donald Cerrone has a unique and beloved approach to fighting that many have tried to emulate over the years.

Without a mask or a care in the world, Cerrone entered UFC Virtual Media Day as the last fighter on the docket. Ready to get the show on the road, Cerrone was delighted to learn that the experience would be short-lived and had several laughs along the way.

Much has been said about Cerrone’s approach to UFC 249, including his actual travel to the host hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. Cerrone and his team -- minus two coaches from Canada and Mexico -- drove across the country from his home in Colorado to Florida for this event in his “Budweiser RV.”

The only issues Cerrone encountered along the way of his cross-country travel were the other drivers and the food. “Cowboy” briefly ranted about fast-lane drivers, and how semi-tractor-trailer trucks should stay out of the left lane on the highway. He came back around to the fight, discussing the fact that his bout with Anthony Pettis will take place at welterweight. Despite this higher weight class than their first meeting at lightweight, healthy cuisine was not an option when he “did 86 all the way here.” Because of this, stops were few and far between, and eating truck stop food was not beneficial for a fighter trying to cut weight.

Luckily for Cerrone, his target weight of 171 pounds is not out of reach. He claimed that he weighed around 180 pounds, while also admitting, “I never get much bigger than 185 [pounds] no matter what I do.” Ten pounds of weight in a day is not a drastic amount to cut, and together with the short camp and short-notice experience, Cerrone feels to be at home more than usual.

“Short-notice fights [are] kind of my wheelhouse. I won’t have any time to get scared or get in my own head…just go out and have some fun.” Cerrone has discussed psychological issues in the past leading up to fights, and says with a sigh that while today he feels great, tomorrow, he doesn’t know. Without a lengthy training camp, while rolling his eyes at 12-week camp experiences, Cerrone does feel that he can truly be in his element.

In addition to bout coming on short notice, Cerrone did not know who he was fighting before he accepted the fight. Many fighters like Angela Hill and Greg Hardy want to stay active and be the Cerrone of their division, but few embody this mentality quite like “Cowboy.”

He explained that when he was called by the UFC and given the May 9 date, Cerrone accepted immediately. The promotion did not even get the chance to tell him who he was fighting before he said yes, so when he later learned that it would Pettis, he was delighted at the opportunity. His answer? "It's time to do 'Cowboy' s---!"

When asked about his first match with Pettis in 2013 -- Pettis won by first-round body kick knockout -- Cerrone laughed at the question by asking if media needed a “clickbait” answer. He then followed up by saying, “then yes, I’m trying to get the win back.” He knew that Pettis would try to kick him, and joked that the two agreed in the hallway that they might not be in the best of shape so they would take “two minutes on, one off” to catch their breath.

On a nearly unprecedented three-fight skid, Cerrone still approaches every fight without concern. He knows he needs a win, and he is fully aware but cannot explain “why I didn’t have it last time on the biggest card. It sucked…it’s a real kick in the d---.” Dwelling on the past does not suit Cerrone for long, who was quick to bounce back by saying, “there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

One major difference in this fight compared to virtually all of his others is that his grandmother will be absent from attending the event live. Although she offered to drive down herself, UFC President Dana White refused, saying, “I’m not gonna be responsible for grandma getting sick.” Cerrone was disappointed that he had to tell her, “Alright grandma you aren’t gonna be able to come,” but knew it would be in her best interest to stay home.

“Cowboy” has said more than once before that he plans on fighting at all three events on May 9, 13 and 16 in Jacksonville, as he drove down and can stay for the week, even remarking that his RV was parked outside the hotel. He doubled down on this with a smile on his face, despite that White has already come out to say that the promotion would not be letting Cerrone fight three times in a week during the pandemic. The 37-year-old cracked himself up when discussing this proposition, saying that with the money he would make from fighting three times, “I’m gonna buy a private jet and fly my a-- home.”

Media day came and went for all 12 UFC fighters involved, but none expressed more relief at the virtual nature of the proceedings than Cerrone. Fully comfortable telling media members that he hates interacting with media for lengthy periods of time, not being able to see them helped. When he was leaving, he grinned and told everyone, “[It’s] Way better than media day with a million mics.”

The first UFC card in nearly two months is going down on May 9, as UFC 249 will be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Headlining the pay-per-view card is an interim lightweight title affair as Tony Ferguson takes on Justin Gaethje. The co-featured attraction is a bantamweight championship bout as Henry Cejudo looks to defend his crown against Dominick Cruz.