Cowboy says he didn't break orbital in loss to Ferguson

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is famous for his unmatched toughness, and the UFC veteran proved his mettle Saturday when he smiled through what appeared to be a significant eye injury at UFC 238.

Cowboy's much-anticipated bout with Tony Ferguson was brought to an abrupt end after Cerrone blew his nose between Rounds 2 and 3, causing his eye to swell alarmingly, which forced doctors to stop the fight.

It was thought that Cowboy had suffered a broken right orbital, but he took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce he avoided any serious injury.

"I'm in good health," Cerrone wrote. "Thanks for all the message and concerns. Only air was in my eye. No broken bones nor cracked or broken orbital. Sitting and waiting for the rematch or next fight."

UFC president Dana White said after the bout that Cowboy had indeed sustained a broken orbital, but Cowboy's agent, Josh Jones, later clarified that it was just a miscommunication.

"All that swelling was from the air from blowing his nose between rounds," Jones told MMA Junkie. "I was told Dana was told by a doctor that they need to send him to hospital to see if it was broken. Kid is strong as nails and wants to run it back."

The all clear for Cowboy could potentially lead to a rematch with Ferguson, who also said he was willing to run it back in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's fight.