Donald Cerrone

Nickname“Cowboy”

Record

36-17, 2 NC

Streak

Age

Date of birth

Mar 29, 1983

Fighting out of: Broomfield, Colorado
Born: United States
Camp: BMF Ranch
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 6'0" · 183 cm
Reach: 73" · 185 cm
Stance: Orthodox
Last fight: Jul 2, 2022
Cut risk: 77%

UFC fight history

ResultOpponentMethodDetailEvent

Jim Miller

Welterweight · Submission · Guillotine Choke After Drop to Guard · R2 · 1:32

UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier · Jul 2, 2022

Submission

R2 · 1:32

Guillotine Choke After Drop to Guard

UFC 276: Adesanya vs. Cannonier

Jul 2, 2022

Alex Morono

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head At Distance · R1 · 4:40

UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson · May 8, 2021

KO/TKO

R1 · 4:40

Punches to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Waterson

May 8, 2021

Niko Price

Welterweight · No Contest · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · Sep 19, 2020

No Contest

R3 · 5:00

—

UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley

Sep 19, 2020

#15Anthony Pettis

Welterweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje · May 9, 2020

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje

May 9, 2020

Conor McGregor

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head On Ground · R1 · 0:40

UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy · Jan 18, 2020

KO/TKO

R1 · 0:40

Punches to Head On Ground

UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy

Jan 18, 2020

#5Justin Gaethje

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R1 · 4:18

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje · Sep 14, 2019

KO/TKO

R1 · 4:18

Punch to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje

Sep 14, 2019

#2Tony Ferguson

Lightweight · KO/TKO · R2 · 5:00

UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes · Jun 8, 2019

KO/TKO

R2 · 5:00

—

UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes

Jun 8, 2019

#4Al Iaquinta

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R5 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy · May 4, 2019

Decision

R5 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy

May 4, 2019

#12Alexander Hernandez

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head At Distance · R2 · 3:43

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw · Jan 19, 2019

KO/TKO

R2 · 3:43

Kick to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw

Jan 19, 2019

#15Mike Perry

Welterweight · Submission · Armbar From Bottom Guard · R1 · 4:46

UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Rodriguez · Nov 10, 2018

Submission

R1 · 4:46

Armbar From Bottom Guard

UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Rodriguez

Nov 10, 2018

#13Leon Edwards

Welterweight · Decision · Unanimous · R5 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards · Jun 23, 2018

Decision

R5 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards

Jun 23, 2018

#15Yancy Medeiros

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head In Clinch · R1 · 4:58

UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Medeiros · Feb 18, 2018

KO/TKO

R1 · 4:58

Punch to Head In Clinch

UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Medeiros

Feb 18, 2018

Darren Till

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Punch to Head In Clinch · R1 · 4:20

UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Till · Oct 21, 2017

KO/TKO

R1 · 4:20

Punch to Head In Clinch

UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Till

Oct 21, 2017

#3Robbie Lawler

Welterweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones 2 · Jul 29, 2017

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 214: Cormier vs. Jones 2

Jul 29, 2017

#12Jorge Masvidal

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Body At Distance · R2 · 1:00

UFC on FOX: Shevchenko vs. Pena · Jan 28, 2017

KO/TKO

R2 · 1:00

Punches to Body At Distance

UFC on FOX: Shevchenko vs. Pena

Jan 28, 2017

#14Matt Brown

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head At Distance · R3 · 0:34

UFC 206: Holloway vs. Pettis · Dec 10, 2016

KO/TKO

R3 · 0:34

Kick to Head At Distance

UFC 206: Holloway vs. Pettis

Dec 10, 2016

#9Rick Story

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head In Clinch · R2 · 2:02

UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2 · Aug 20, 2016

KO/TKO

R2 · 2:02

Kick to Head In Clinch

UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2

Aug 20, 2016

Patrick Cote

Welterweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head At Distance · R3 · 2:35

UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson · Jun 18, 2016

KO/TKO

R3 · 2:35

Punches to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson

Jun 18, 2016

Alex Oliveira

Welterweight · Submission · Triangle Choke From Mount · R1 · 2:33

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy · Feb 21, 2016

Submission

R1 · 2:33

Triangle Choke From Mount

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy

Feb 21, 2016

CRafael Dos AnjosTitle

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head On Ground · R1 · 1:06

UFC on FOX: Dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 · Dec 19, 2015

KO/TKO

R1 · 1:06

Punches to Head On Ground

UFC on FOX: Dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2

Dec 19, 2015

John Makdessi

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head At Distance · R2 · 4:44

UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier · May 23, 2015

KO/TKO

R2 · 4:44

Kick to Head At Distance

UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier

May 23, 2015

#5Benson Henderson

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver · Jan 18, 2015

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver

Jan 18, 2015

#8Myles Jury

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier · Jan 3, 2015

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier

Jan 3, 2015

#14Eddie Alvarez

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 178: Johnson vs. Cariaso · Sep 27, 2014

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 178: Johnson vs. Cariaso

Sep 27, 2014

#7Jim Miller

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head At Distance · R2 · 3:31

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Miller · Jul 16, 2014

KO/TKO

R2 · 3:31

Kick to Head At Distance

UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Miller

Jul 16, 2014

#11Edson Barboza

Lightweight · Submission · Rear Naked Choke · R1 · 3:15

UFC on FOX: Werdum vs. Browne · Apr 19, 2014

Submission

R1 · 3:15

Rear Naked Choke

UFC on FOX: Werdum vs. Browne

Apr 19, 2014

Adriano Martins

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head At Distance · R1 · 4:40

UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Thomson · Jan 25, 2014

KO/TKO

R1 · 4:40

Kick to Head At Distance

UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Thomson

Jan 25, 2014

Evan Dunham

Lightweight · Submission · Triangle Choke From Bottom Guard · R2 · 3:49

UFC 167: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks · Nov 16, 2013

Submission

R2 · 3:49

Triangle Choke From Bottom Guard

UFC 167: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks

Nov 16, 2013

#6Rafael Dos Anjos

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 · Aug 28, 2013

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2

Aug 28, 2013

KJ Noons

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 · May 25, 2013

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2

May 25, 2013

Anthony Pettis

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Body At Distance · R1 · 2:35

UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Dodson · Jan 26, 2013

KO/TKO

R1 · 2:35

Kick to Body At Distance

UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Dodson

Jan 26, 2013

Melvin Guillard

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Kick to Head At Distance · R1 · 1:16

UFC 150: Henderson vs. Edgar II · Aug 11, 2012

KO/TKO

R1 · 1:16

Kick to Head At Distance

UFC 150: Henderson vs. Edgar II

Aug 11, 2012

Jeremy Stephens

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC on FUEL TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier · May 15, 2012

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC on FUEL TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier

May 15, 2012

Nate Diaz

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem · Dec 30, 2011

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

Dec 30, 2011

Dennis Siver

Lightweight · Submission · Rear Naked Choke · R1 · 2:22

UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz · Oct 29, 2011

Submission

R1 · 2:22

Rear Naked Choke

UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz

Oct 29, 2011

Charles Oliveira

Lightweight · KO/TKO · Punches to Head On Ground · R1 · 3:01

UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle · Aug 14, 2011

KO/TKO

R1 · 3:01

Punches to Head On Ground

UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle

Aug 14, 2011

Vagner Rocha

Lightweight · Decision · Unanimous · R3 · 5:00

UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin · Jun 11, 2011

Decision

R3 · 5:00

Unanimous

UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin

Jun 11, 2011

Paul Kelly

Lightweight · Submission · Rear Naked Choke · R2 · 3:48

UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort · Feb 5, 2011

Submission

R2 · 3:48

Rear Naked Choke

UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort

Feb 5, 2011

Outside the UFC

13-3, 1 NCacross 17 bouts · 8 promotions · wins by 11 sub · 2 decWEC · GCM · ROF 29 · ROF 28 · ROF 26 +3

Res	Opponent	Outcome	Finish	Rd	Time	Promotion	Date
W	Chris Horodecki21-7-1	Submission	Triangle Choke	R2	2:43	WEC	Dec 16, 2010
W	Jamie Varner21-11-1	Decision	Unanimous	R3	5:00	WEC	Sep 30, 2010
L	Benson Henderson30-13	Submission	Guillotine Choke	R1	1:57	WEC	Apr 24, 2010
W	Ed Ratcliff7-3	Submission	Rear-Naked Choke	R3	3:47	WEC	Dec 19, 2009
L	Benson Henderson30-13	Decision	Unanimous	R5	5:00	WEC	Oct 10, 2009
W	James Krause28-8	Submission	Rear-Naked Choke	R1	4:38	WEC	Jun 7, 2009
L	Jamie Varner21-11-1	Decision	Split	R5	3:10	WEC	Jan 25, 2009
W	Rob McCullough19-8	Decision	Unanimous	R3	5:00	WEC	Nov 5, 2008
W	Danny Castillo17-10	Submission	Armbar	R1	1:30	WEC	Jun 1, 2008
NC	Kenneth Alexander7-6	No Contest	Overturned by NSAC	R1	0:56	WEC	Sep 5, 2007
W	Yasunori Kanehara3-5-2	Submission	Triangle Choke	R2	2:46	GCM	Jun 9, 2007
W	Anthony Njokuani18-16	Submission	Triangle Choke	R1	4:30	ROF 29	Apr 28, 2007
W	Ryan Roberts21-12-1	Submission	Armbar	R1	1:49	ROF 28	Feb 16, 2007
W	Jesse Brock23-9	Submission	Triangle Choke	R1	1:35	ROF 26	Sep 9, 2006
W	Craig Tennant0-1	Submission	Armbar	R1	1:26	ROF 24	Jun 17, 2006
W	Cruz Chacon13-18-1	Submission	Triangle Choke	R2	2:25	ACF	Feb 24, 2006
W	Nate Mohr9-7	Submission	Triangle Choke	R1	1:42	ROF 21	Feb 11, 2006

Non-UFC bouts (regional/other promotions) — shown for context only, excluded from Schedule Score, striking/grappling rates, and every UFC-scoped metric.

Career striking

OverallC58th

46%1,635 / 3,461

Striking accuracy

53%

Striking defense

Sig. strikes / min-0.07 differential

Landed4.41

Absorbed4.48

63%str + td

Defensive rating

Striking edge

-1%accuracy vs opp. landing

worseevenbetter

Strike maps

Sig. strikes by target

Head50%71st824
Body25%88th404
Leg25%89th407

Color = division rank · green elite → red low · % = share of strikes

Sig. strikes by position

84%Standing

Standing84%1,377
Clinch9%140
Ground7%118

Striking zones

Per-15-minute breakdown — where this fighter lands, and where they get hit.

UFC only

Donald Cerrone

Landed per 15

Head

73rd

36.2

73rd

Body

A+

90th

17.7

90th

Leg

A+

91st

17.9

91st

Ranks are division percentiles — e.g. 90th = top 10% of the weight class. Higher is always better: on “absorbed” rows the rank is inverted, so a high rank means they get hit less.

Absorbed per 15

Head

22nd

43.4

22nd

Body

12th

18.2

12th

Leg

19th

11.9

19th

Ranks are division percentiles — e.g. 90th = top 10% of the weight class. Higher is always better: on “absorbed” rows the rank is inverted, so a high rank means they get hit less.

Career totals — landed / attempted

Landed (career total)

Zone	Per 15	Landed	Attempted	Accuracy
Head	36.2	824	2,449	34%
Body	17.7	404	546	74%
Leg	17.9	407	466	87%

Absorbed (career total)

Zone	Per 15	Landed	Attempted	Accuracy
Head	43.4	989	2,496	40%
Body	18.2	414	626	66%
Leg	11.9	272	334	81%

UFCStats career rates, per 15 minutes. Percentiles vs the division; absorbed is inverted so higher is better.

Pace & fade

Round-by-round work rate, and whether they fade.

UFC only

Donald Cerrone

37 UFC bouts (per‑round) · 342 min

144%

R3 pace · 14 bouts

Cerrone holds steady (+0% per round through round 5). Within fights that reached round 3, Cerrone lifts to 144% of round-1 output by round 3 (14 bouts).

Cerrone — HOLDSOutput / min

Rounds backed by fewer than 2 bouts are drawn smaller and dimmed with an n= count — a deep round seen in one or two fights is a thin sample, not a settled rate. Per-round bout counts are in the breakdown below.

Full per-round breakdown

What drives the pace · per round

The composite output line above blends these three inputs — splitting them out shows whether the work rate is built on striking volume, takedown pressure, or top control, and which input fades.

Sig. strikes landed

Cerronelanded / min

Takedown attempts

Cerroneattempts / min

Control time

Cerrone% of round

Round	Output / min	Sig landed / min	Sig absorbed / min	TD att / min	Control	Bouts
R1	5.3	4.2	5.3	0.20	12%	37
R2	6.2	5.2	4.8	0.21	10%	23
R3	7.2	5.8	4.5	0.35	11%	14
R4	4.6	3.6	2.4	0.20	11%	2
R5	6.1	5.4	3.8	0.10	9%	2

Output / minis the headline work rate — significant strikes landed, plus 3 per takedown attempt, plus one per 15 seconds of control — so a takedown-and-grind round isn’t scored as idle the way bare striking volume would. The remaining columns are its components. Per-round rates use UFCStats per-round data (available for ~95% of bouts since 2008). Each round’s rates are averaged only over bouts that reached that round, so the bout count shrinks as rounds deepen. The final round of a finished fight is pro-rated by its actual length.

Schedule Score

Opponent quality, ranked across the UFC. Recent fights weighted heavier.

UFC only

Donald Cerrone

38 resolved UFC bouts · 19 ranked at the time

Schedule Score

63/ 100

0255075100

Schedule strength

A+

88th

62%

88th

Win quality

85th

54%

85th

Opponent quality distribution

Every UFC bout, grouped by who the opponent was at the time.

ChampionHeld the title in this weight class at the time
Top-5Ranked #1–#5 at the time
Ranked 6–15Ranked #6–#15 at the time
Cross-div rankedRanked #1–#15 in another division at the time
Contender-level8+ UFC wins entering the bout, ≥.55 win rate
Established5+ UFC wins entering the bout, ≥.500
Building3+ UFC fights, ≥.40 win rate
UnprovenFewer than 3 fights, or sub-.40 win rate

Tier	Bouts	Record	Win rate
Champion	9	3-6	33%
Top-5	8	4-4	50%
Ranked 6–15	9	7-2	78%
Cross-div ranked	3	2-1	67%
Contender-level	3	2-1	67%
Established	1	1-0	100%
Building	4	3-0, 1 NC	100%
Unproven	1	1-0	100%

Highest-quality opponents

Toughest opponents on the scheduleScore, scored at the time of the fight.

All bouts — opponent quality bout-by-bout

Res	Opponent	Tier	Score	Date
L	Jim Miller	Cross-div ranked	45	Jul 2, 2022
L	Alex Morono	Contender-level	40	May 8, 2021
NC	Niko Price	Building	22	Sep 19, 2020
L	Anthony Pettis#15	Ranked 6–15	72	May 9, 2020
L	Conor McGregor	Ranked 6–15	61	Jan 18, 2020
L	Justin Gaethje#5	Champion	92	Sep 14, 2019
L	Tony Ferguson#2	Top-5	92	Jun 8, 2019
W	Al Iaquinta#4	Top-5	81	May 4, 2019
W	Alexander Hernandez#12	Ranked 6–15	66	Jan 19, 2019
W	Mike Perry#15	Ranked 6–15	60	Nov 10, 2018
L	Leon Edwards#13	Champion	87	Jun 23, 2018
W	Yancy Medeiros#15	Ranked 6–15	60	Feb 18, 2018
L	Darren Till	Top-5	63	Oct 21, 2017
L	Robbie Lawler#3	Champion	94	Jul 29, 2017
L	Jorge Masvidal#12	Top-5	77	Jan 28, 2017
W	Matt Brown#14	Top-5	72	Dec 10, 2016
W	Rick Story#9	Ranked 6–15	70	Aug 20, 2016
W	Patrick Cote	Building	22	Jun 18, 2016
W	Alex Oliveira	Ranked 6–15	48	Feb 21, 2016
L	Rafael Dos AnjosCHAMP	Champion	100	Dec 19, 2015
W	John Makdessi	Contender-level	40	May 23, 2015
W	Benson Henderson#5	Champion	92	Jan 18, 2015
W	Myles Jury#8	Ranked 6–15	72	Jan 3, 2015
W	Eddie Alvarez#14	Champion	87	Sep 27, 2014
W	Jim Miller#7	Top-5	78	Jul 16, 2014
W	Edson Barboza#11	Top-5	78	Apr 19, 2014
W	Adriano Martins	Building	15	Jan 25, 2014
W	Evan Dunham	Ranked 6–15	53	Nov 16, 2013
L	Rafael Dos Anjos#6	Champion	91	Aug 28, 2013
W	KJ Noons	Building	15	May 25, 2013
L	Anthony Pettis	Champion	71	Jan 26, 2013
W	Melvin Guillard	Contender-level	45	Aug 11, 2012
W	Jeremy Stephens	Cross-div ranked	40	May 15, 2012
L	Nate Diaz	Top-5	68	Dec 30, 2011
W	Dennis Siver	Cross-div ranked	45	Oct 29, 2011
W	Charles Oliveira	Champion	71	Aug 14, 2011
W	Vagner Rocha	Unproven	8	Jun 11, 2011
W	Paul Kelly	Established	30	Feb 5, 2011

Per-bout quality scoring: champion = 100; same-division ranks 1–5 = 90 → 78 linear; ranks 6–15 = 75 → 60 linear; cross-division champion = 78; cross-division ranked = 45; title-fight challenger (no rank signal) = 50, bumped to 65 when opp had an elite career UFC record at the time. Unranked opponents are scored on UFC record-at-time (long-tenured vet 60, contender-level 45, established 30, building 18, unproven 8). P4P top-10 at time adds +5; top-3 adds +8 (capped at 100). The Schedule Score combines schedule strength (65%) and quality wins (35%), then is held toward a rookie baseline for fighters with limited UFC experience so a thin résumé reads honestly low.

In the news

All news →

'Cowboy' Cerrone won significant amount betting on Sean Strickland at UFC 328sherdog · May 26, 2026

Takedowns	24 / 78
Submission attempts	11
Control time	37:46

TDs defended	61 / 69
Control absorbed	19:08

Donald Cerrone

UFC fight history

Outside the UFC

Method of victory & defeat

Finishes

KO history

Judging

Career striking

Striking zones

Grappling

Pace & fade

What drives the pace · per round

Schedule Score

Career cohorts

Activity & layoff

Fight-by-fight odds & scoring