Donald Cerrone Ends Four-Year Retirement on the Wrestling Mats

Donald Cerrone is coming out of retirement, although not inside the Octagon. The UFC Hall of Famer will compete for the first time since his farewell fight at UFC 276, stepping onto the Real American Freestyle wrestling mats against an opponent he has faced twice before.

Cerrone hung up his gloves four years ago after a submission loss to Jim Miller at UFC 276. Less than a year later, in 2023, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. During his UFC career, the former title challenger collected wins over names such as Mike Perry, Matt Brown and Benson Henderson.

A first step back

Now 43, Cerrone has repeatedly hinted at a return to mixed martial arts in recent years, but he has not signed any deal for a UFC comeback. Instead, his first move back into competition will come in wrestling. RAF announced on Wednesday that Cerrone will face Anthony Pettis at RAF 15 in Chicago on November 28, with the rest of the card to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Pettis will be making his RAF debut. The former UFC lightweight champion has not competed since a boxing loss to Chris Avila in July 2024, and his last MMA appearance was a defeat to Stevie Ray during the 2022 PFL lightweight tournament.

Rivals for a third time

The match will be the third meeting between the two veterans. Pettis knocked Cerrone out in their first fight in January 2013 and then beat him again by unanimous decision in their rematch at UFC 249. This time the meeting will take place on the wrestling mats under freestyle rules rather than in the Octagon.