Why Cowboy Cerrone is so Beloved

Donald Cerrone in the hospital circa September 2018

The reason I chose the picture above is not because it's a popular one, but because it embodies the essence of Donald Cerrone. A wild, fearless, equally insane and happy man who breaks his arm in an unidentified incident that has NOTHING to do with a professional fight. It's 2019, and we love Cowboy as much as we ever have. A couple of years ago after a few losses at welterweight, some people thought he was all but finished in the sport of MMA. Yet here we are, reveling in the candor of his personality and value of the entertainment he provides. With that being said - why do we love him so much? Sure he is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport, his interviews are honest and funny, and he just LOVES to fight. But - is this REALLY why we love him?

Maybe it is, and maybe that's all there is to it. I don't subscribe to the notion that fighters are biologically enhanced super-cyborg beings, or to the idea that they are Gods walking among peasants. They are human beings just like us, and they bleed their own blood (shout out to Derek Zoolander). I think the idea at play here is that fighters have an extraordinary ability to overcome adversity in a way that we all wish we could in our daily lives. Not just the pain or difficulty from a single punch, round, fight, or even a string of losses - the struggle of sacrifice, dedication, and persistence. Many fighters have come and gone over the last 25 years in the UFC - and a lot has changed. Out of thousands of fighters to come around during that time period, Cowboy stands out. To me, the reason we love Cowboy is more than just these traits. The reason we love him is because we see him as one of us - a mere mortal who just happens to get punched in the face for a living. This is in stark contrast to the way we see a fighter like McGregor - as a larger than life character, almost to the point of being cartoonish. Fans (myself included) see Cowboy as a guy we would get along with, possibly even have a few beers with. This makes what Cerrone does in the cage even more impressive, and more entertaining. Everyone has either had that friend or has known somebody else with one - the nicest, coolest person in the room wherever they go. This friend generally doesn't start fights, nor do they even hold grudges or contentious relationships. They are usually cool with everyone, but also have no problem beating the living shit out of somebody who insists on fighting them. These character traits resonate with us mostly because we want to be that person (if you're a dude), a man walking among boys.

We don't connect with Cerrone because he's unbeatable or because he's the absolute best. Not even for the the fact that he's spent over 13 years fighting the very best fighters on the planet. We see him as a blue-collar guy - a hard-working, humble, and sincere man of the people. One that just happens to be a world-class MMA fighter, competing in one of the world's premier organizations for combat sports. Cowboy is just being himself, and we love him for it.