What drives a retired fighter to return to the spotlight? For some, like boxing legend Mike Tyson, it might be the lure of money. But for UFC veteran Donald Cerrone, it’s about something more profound. In October of this year, ‘Cowboy’ surprised UFC CEO Dana White with a bold statement, “Now I have to come off… fight in a few months. Watch this.” His declaration hinted at a potential comeback to reach the coveted 50-fight milestone under the UFC-WEC banner and to pursue records that will cement his legacy.

Additionally, Cerrone is determined to script history with records for the most wins, finishes, and bonuses. With 23 victories, he currently holds the second-most wins in promotion history. While this accolade may be out of reach, ‘Cowboy’ would need to fight twice to achieve the aforementioned record of the most appearances in company history.

Cerrone teased a potential return in the summer of 2025, sparking speculation about who his opponent could be at this stage in his career. Given their similar ages and history, one possibility is Jim Miller, the last opponent Cerrone faced. On the other hand, former UFC champion and analyst Michael Bisping has another suggestion. On his Believe You Me podcast, Bisping proposed, “There’s the name. The one matchup that I think most people would sign off on if he’s still not retired, would be a rematch with Tony Ferguson.”

‘Cowboy’ and Tony Ferguson previously clashed at UFC 238 in 2019 at 155lbs where ‘El Cucuy’ claimed victory via TKO after an intense battle. Fellow analyst and ex-UFC fighter Paul Felder agreed, adding, “Yeah, but that would have to be at least at 170, right? That could make sense. And that’s a guy—alright, you lost to him years ago. Tony’s been on a really rough skid. Really, rough for a long time. It’s two guys the UFC doesn’t want fighting anymore, so what better way to get them through their contracts than to give them that?”

Both Cerrone and the former interim champ find themselves in similar positions in 2024. Now 40, Ferguson’s once-dominant career—highlighted by a 12-fight win streak from 2013 to 2019—has taken a sharp downturn. Since 2020, ‘El Cucuy’ has endured an eight-fight losing streak, with his most recent loss to Michael Chiesa at welterweight.

Following the fight, Dana White urged Ferguson to retire. Yet, ‘El Cucuy’ left one of his gloves in the Octagon with a cryptic remark, “Just in case,” sparking hope among fans that his career might not be over yet. However, with Cerrone’s recent announcement about returning to a specific weight class, Bisping’s dream matchup could be jeopardized. Let’s take a closer look at the weight division Cerrone is targeting for his comeback next year.

Donald Cerrone’s potential weight class for UFC return revealed

Donald Cerrone remains resolute and unfazed by the criticism surrounding his decision to return to the Octagon at 41, after a brief retirement. In a recent conversation with Dale Brisby, Cerrone shared plans to return in 2025, potentially aligning with American Independence Day, July 4th. “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,” he said.

When asked about his weight class for the return, Cerrone expressed his disdain for weight cutting, especially at his age. He stated that he would likely compete in the middleweight division. “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.”

Throughout his over-decade-long career, ‘Cowboy’ fought at 155lbs and 170lbs. Additionally, he earned praise for his willingness to fight anytime, anywhere, on short notice. This approach led to an 8-fight win streak and a title shot against former champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 17. Although he never achieved that title, Cerrone is now focused on cementing his legacy by collecting what’s left.

As for Michael Bisping’s suggestion of a rematch between Cerrone and Tony Ferguson, do you think it would be the perfect opportunity for both fighters to close out their long careers in the Octagon? Share your thoughts below.