Johnny Eblen criticized Donald Cerrone‘s decision to come out of retirement for more fights, especially due to Cerrone’s admission of using performance-enhancing drugs while retired, reflecting concerns about fighters competing past their prime and the influence of figures like Conor McGregor.
Johnny Eblen is the latest fighter to take a jab at the “Cowboy” comeback. Recently, longtime UFC veteran Donald Cerrone announced his plans to unretire. He’s aiming to become the first fighter with 50 in-cage appearances across UFC and WEC. Quite the goal, right? But not everyone’s thrilled.
Cerrone’s return has sparked criticism from peers. Why? Well, he’s admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while out of the spotlight. That’s a big no-no for many. Eblen was asked about his thoughts on Cerrone’s comeback. Spoiler alert: he’s not a fan.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” Eblen remarked. He was speaking at the PFL Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The setting might be grand, but his opinion was clear-cut. “Retire, juice up, then fight again? Nah, not cool.”
Eblen believes Conor McGregor set a precedent here. Fighters pushing past their prime, juiced up, trying to hang onto glory days. It’s not natural or healthy, he argues. “Your brain doesn’t heal from steroids,” he added with conviction.
Cerrone hit 41 this March. Will UFC greenlight his octagon return? That’s still up in the air. UFC CEO Dana White weighed in briefly: “Love him, hate that.” Cryptic much?
And speaking of McGregor, he’s bulked up during his hiatus since July 2021. Yet, officially, he’s never failed a drug test. After his leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, McGregor stepped out of the drug-testing pool until October 2023. Now he’s back under scrutiny.
So there you have it—a tangled web of comebacks and controversies. What do you think?