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Nov. 13, 2018: Cerrone hints at McGregor fight
Following more than two years of silence on the McGregor vs. Cerrone front, Cerrone restores interest in the matchup following his submission win over Mike Perry at UFC Fight Night 139. He hinted at an “exciting” matchup for himself immediately after the fight, then took to social media and mentioned that he was waiting for McGregor to commit.
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Nov. 18, 2018: UFC president Dana White shuts down McGregor vs. Cerrone
Following Cerrone’s social media post, speculation begins to swirl about a potential matchup with McGregor. UFC president Dana White throws cold water on the idea, though, telling TMZ it’s not happening.
“Obviously, that’s the fight that ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone wants, but that’s not true,” White said.
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Jan. 16, 2019: Cerrone returns to lightweight, calls for McGregor
After a lengthy stint at welterweight, Cerrone returns to lightweight to defeat Alexander Hernandez at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January. At open workouts prior to the fight, Cerrone says his plan is to win then get the fight with McGregor.
“We’re working for it, for sure,” Cerrone said. “Hopefully the next fight. Conor’s his own beast. He gets to dictate the spot what he wants, so it’s whether me and the UFC agree, it’s all kind of on him. He did a good job of cementing himself, so it’s all on him.”
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Jan. 19, 2019: McGregor tells Cerrone: ‘I’ll fight you’
Just minutes after Cerrone’s second-round TKO of Hernandez at UFC on ESPN+ 1, McGregor takes to Twitter and says he’s down for the matchup.
For a fight like that Donald, I’ll fight you.
Congratulations.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 20, 2019
Of course, Cerrone says he’s ready to book the fight immediately.
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Feb. 8, 2019: White labels Cerrone ‘frontrunner’ to land McGregor fight
White changes his tune about Cerrone fighting McGregor after UFC on ESPN+ 1. He tells MMA Junkie’s John Morgan during an interview ahead of UFC 234 in Melbourne that Cerrone is the leading candidate to fight McGregor once the former champion makes his octagon return.
“Those two want to fight each other; they’ve both earned it,” White said. “‘Cowboy’s’ fought anybody we’ve ever put against him. We throw this young killer Hernandez at him, ‘Cowboy’s’ the underdog and he goes in and does it the way he did it, then Conor’s fought everybody. If these two want to fight, I’m down.”
Could we see @TheNotoriousMMA x @CowboyCerrone this summer? 👀👀 https://t.co/VSZ2g7Te6f pic.twitter.com/vKVE1EjCOp
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) February 8, 2019
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Feb. 8, 2019: Cerrone teases McGregor fight will be for interim belt
After learning that he was the frontrunner to fight McGregor next, Cerrone puts an additional layer of intrigue over the fight by teasing that an interim lightweight title could be on the line while champion Khabib Nurmagomedov continues to serve his suspension for his UFC 229 brawl with McGregor in October 2018.
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Feb. 8, 2019: Cerrone predicts second-round knockout of McGregor
With hopes of landing the McGregor fight in the summer, Cerrone makes his prediction for a showdown against “The Notorious” during a fan Q&A at UFC 234 weigh-ins in Melbourne, Australia.
“(My prediction is a) second-round head kick (knockout),” Cerrone said. “I’m just going to go out there and fight my ass off. I really am. Definitely the standup – I’m going to stand and fight him. I’m not going to try to wrestle him, I’m going to (expletive) stand and give you all what you want to see.”
How will @CowboyCerrone beat @TheNotoriousMMA this summer? Let him tell you … before stripping 😂🤠 https://t.co/Jrbb656pmZ pic.twitter.com/yszeoxWvUm
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) February 9, 2019
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Feb. 18, 2019: White says McGregor vs. Cerrone ‘not even close’
After UFC commentator Joe Rogan says on his podcast that he was under the impression McGregor vs. Cerrone was a “a done deal” for April, White tells TMZ that is not the case.
“Not true,” White said. “Not even close. … It’s not even close to being done.”
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March 7, 2019: McGregor vs. Cerrone talks halt over main event placement
Following weeks of silence, ESPN reports that McGregor vs. Cerrone talks have stalled because the UFC wants the fight to serve as a co-main event. McGregor was reportedly unwilling to agree to those terms, and Cerrone says he was told the same.
“Conor won’t fight unless it’s a main event,” Cerrone said. “I don’t know if it’s an ego thing or a status thing for him. I don’t give a (expletive). I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, and I stand by that all the time. I guess he’s a prima donna and only takes main event spots. I don’t know.”
White says the booking “just didn’t happen” and reveals McGregor has turned his attention to a rematch with Nurmagomedov. And naturally, Cerrone is frustrated.
“We were all waiting on Conor for April, and he said he wasn’t ready,” Cerrone said. “I don’t know how in one breath you can say, ‘I’ll fight anyone, anytime, anywhere,’ and the next one say, ‘I’m not ready for that one.’
“I’m more annoyed that he went radio silent after putting it out. I get it: You want to stay relevant by putting it out there, but then you can’t go radio silent. Sack up, (expletive). Sign the (expletive) paper.”