‘Cowboy’ Cerrone could add UFC title belt to his wild life

‘MMA makes you sore and tired everyday’

NEW YORK, Dec 18, (AP): Donald Cerrone grudgingly acknowledged he would have to take several months off this year between his eighth consecutive UFC victory and his first shot at the lightweight title while champion Rafael Dos Anjos recovered from injury.

That’s a standard schedule for toplevel mixed martial artists, who don’t share Cerrone’s insatiable desire to fight several times every year.

There is nothing standard about the thrill-seeking, extreme-sports-loving, life-maximizing fighter known to all as Cowboy — and Cerrone used his spare time as only he can. from Japan to Morocco eventually led him to UFC stardom — with a few knocks along the way.

The former professional bull rider is also an avid wakeboarder, gun enthusiast and rock climber. He has broken his back twice, and he was once disemboweled by the handlebars of his allterrain vehicle, losing a section of his intestines and stomach after a 60-foot jump gone very wrong. He injured his ankle badly before a bout 2-1/2 years ago, but still beat KJ Noons by unanimous decision. He hasn’t had a serious pre-fight injury since then.

Cerrone realizes that his boss, UFC President Dana White, could be understandably curious about his popular fighter’s life choices.

“Me and Dana have a pretty good understanding,” Cerrone said. “He just kind of lets me be me. I’ve never pulled out of a fight, never not showed up to fight, so injured or not, I’m coming. It’s a relaxed intensity I’ve got to live my life in.”

Cerrone also flouts the standard fight-sports wisdom about allowing his body to recover from the training grind. He has fought four times in each of the past three years, declaring himself more interested in fattening his bank account than taking the belt.

But his winning streak and his subsequent rise up the lightweight rankings finally did what fatigue, and broken backs never could: They forced Cowboy to slow down.

Cerrone In this March 15, 2015 file photo, Rafael dos Anjos celebrates after winning the men’s lightweight mixed martial arts title bout against Anthony Pettis at UFC 185

in Dallas. (AP)