UFC Reschedules Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon Bout for June 18

Now the matchup between the two lightweight fighters is set to occur during a UFC Fight Night card in Austin, Texas.

Much to the fans’ disappointment, the heavily touted match was called off after the doctor’s intervention due to food poisoning, as confirmed by Joe Rogan. First reported by ESPN, ‘Cowboy’ would return to the Octagon against Joe Lauzon on the 18th of June. 

Donald Cerrone holds the record for the most wins in the UFC’s history (23) alongside Charles Oliveira, and has collected 18 post-fight bonuses, another UFC record. The 20 knockdowns he has recorded inside the Octagon is yet another promotional record.

Donald Cerrone Eyes Legacy as UFC Reschedules His Fight with Joe Lauzon

The veteran has had a new breath of life in the promotion, switching camps and planning to cement himself as a Hall of Famer when he accumulates 50 fights under the new UFC banner before his retirement talks can commence. 

“My number is 50, gentlemen. I’ll retire when I get 50. So I got two more fights in the UFC. So thank you Dana a a White thank you Joe Lauzon for not taking that fight with an ill, sick Cowboy. You want a strong, healthy, bad motherf*****. So we’ll meet again.- Cerrone said after pulling out due to illness.

The promotion has approved his desire to extend his legacy, and a rescheduled date for his bout against Joe Lauzon was put in place.

‘Cowboy’ (36-16) enters his first UFC bout in just over a year and is riding a five-fight losing streak dating back to 2019 when he was knocked out by UFC veteran Tony Ferguson.

Cerrone last picked up wins against Al Iaquinta and Alexander Hernandez before totally derailing with zero victories in his following six bouts.

For Joe Lauzon, having not graced the cage since late 2019, this booking comes on the heels of a TKO victory in a lightweight bout with Jonathan Pearce.

Before the much-needed win against Pearce, Lauzon had endured a three-fight losing skid and has never enjoyed a brilliant run of form in the Octagon since joining the promotion in 2006. Lauzon (28-15-0) has never won more than two straight fights under the UFC banner.

It will be interesting to see how two veterans on the edge of retirement push one another.

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