Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s decision to return to fighting after a mixed career end and openly using steroids post-retirement has sparked controversy, with fellow fighter Jim Miller expressing discomfort with the situation while emphasizing his own firm retirement plans.
When Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone announced his plans to fight again, reactions were all over the place. Sure, he was a fan favorite in his prime, but those glory days seemed long gone after a rough 0-6 streak with one no contest in his final seven fights.
Post-retirement, Cerrone openly admitted to using steroids. He even mentioned feeling “like I’m f*cking 20 again,” thanks to substances he could finally take without the UFC’s anti-doping rules hanging over him.
Jim Miller, who fought Cerrone just before this comeback announcement, has mixed feelings about it. While he doesn’t want to judge anyone for their choices, he’s uneasy about the circumstances here.
“I have a tough time telling other grown men what to do,” Miller shared with MMA Fighting. “But the fact that he was very open about performance enhancers… I’m not super into it, to be 100 percent honest.”
In those last seven fights, Cerrone faced four knockouts and a submission loss. Now he’s eyeing a return at nearly 42 years old, potentially fighting three years after his last UFC appearance.
The time away and accumulated damage are concerns for Miller. But what’s really bothering him is Cerrone’s use of banned substances post-retirement.
Though Cerrone will undergo six months of testing before any fight, Miller isn’t thrilled about this “steroid vacation” approach. “What are we doing?” he wonders aloud. Yet, ultimately, it’s up to Cerrone and his team.
Miller prefers focusing on his own path rather than dictating others’ choices. After a recent win at UFC 309, he declared his goal: reach 50 total fights in the UFC before retiring for good.
Unlike Cerrone’s wavering decisions, Miller is firm about his endgame. “I want to be in a situation where when I’m done, I’m done,” he said. No back-and-forth or second-guessing.
His brother Dan’s career woes offer a cautionary tale. Once seen as potential title contenders, Jim pushed forward while Dan’s journey ended early due to injuries.
Dan had neck surgery in 2013—two joints messed up—and it was uncertain if both would be fused. They ended up fusing only one, but the damage lingered.
Despite persistent injuries, Dan attempted a comeback but re-injured himself weeks out from the fight. It was hard for Jim to watch his brother struggle and not reach his potential.
Jim doesn’t want that fate for himself or those around him. So while he won’t dictate Cerrone’s choices, he’s resolute that when he retires, it’s for real.
“When I make that choice that it’s done for me, it’s done,” Miller stated firmly. He dreams of life post-fighting—getting out of bed without limping sounds pretty great!
For Cerrone, it’s a tricky spot. But as Miller says, grown men make their own decisions. Whatever Cowboy decides to do next—well, that’s entirely up to him.