“Oh, well, my six months. So, I’ve got to be clean for six months, and that’s conveniently enough for Fourth of July week, International Fight Week.” These words came from 41-year-old UFC retired star Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, renowned for his reputation of taking fights anytime and anywhere. Last month, he stunned the MMA community by announcing the end of his brief retirement, confirming his return to the Octagon after a 2.5-year hiatus.

The Denver export, who is focused on achieving the milestone of 50 career fights in both the UFC and WEC combined, is now just a few bouts away from reaching that goal—a plan that has sparked concern among many. Even UFC CEO Dana White voiced his opinion, saying, “Love him, hate that” How can Cerrone, at 41 years old, return to the Octagon after enduring countless hits to his body and head? The answer lies in “going back on TRT!”

On his YouTube channel, ‘Cowboy’ shared, “After getting that cleaned up, I’m feeling back to my healthy state. Yes, I was on TRT and other peptides, which helped heal all the injuries I had, mainly my brain. It’s actually legal to still take to this day in the UFC. They call it ‘the foundation,’ and it helps revitalize your cells. With two or more fights left, I can’t wait to get through them, and then I’m bowing out. I’m walking away.”

TRT, now widely regarded as a “miracle cure” for aging athletes, has gained endorsement from UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan, as well as New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Throughout his 15-year UFC career, Cerrone enjoyed a standout period between 2013 and 2015, during which he climbed to the top of the lightweight division, winning eight consecutive bouts against top-tier opponents such as Eddie Alvarez, Jim Miller, and Benson Henderson.

This impressive streak earned him a shot at the title against Rafael dos Anjos. However, despite ‘Cowboy’s’ determination, he fell short in the face of Dos Anjos’ speed, and in the first round, Dos Anjos secured a submission, putting Cerrone to sleep. Now, the Denver native is preparing for a return to the Octagon — but the question remains: in which weight class will he compete?

Which weight class is Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone aiming for in his return?

Donald Cerrone is one of the few MMA veterans who has been part of the WEC promotion since before it was acquired by the UFC, carrying over the lighter weight classes to the bigger stage. Throughout his career, Cerrone has fought in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions. As his career wound down, he primarily competed at 170lbs, most notably facing Conor McGregor in 2020.

Unfortunately, Cerrone was unable to secure a win in his next four bouts, with his final fight against Jim Miller ending in a second-round guillotine choke submission, leading to his retirement. Now, at over 40 years old, Cerrone is considering a move to the middleweight division for his final fights.

In a recent chat with Dale Brisby, the Denver native explained his approach, saying, “We’ll see where my weight goes. You know what I want to do? I don’t want to cut any weight. I just want to show up and fight. So 185 sounds great to me. If I get down to 190, I’ll fight at 170. I don’t know. I’ll see how my body feels and what actually turns out.”

What’s your opinion on Donald Cerrone’s return to the UFC? Do you think it’s the right decision for him to pursue the milestone of 50 fights in the promotion? Given that he’s 41 years old, is it a wise move? If so, who do you think would make a good opponent for ‘Cowboy’, especially now that Tony Ferguson has left the promotion— a fight many fans had been eager to see?