Report: Cerrone booked for return bout vs. Sanchez
The UFC is booking Donald Cerrone versus Diego Sanchez for a bout on May 8, according to MMA Fighting.
The fight will take place at welterweight, ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports.
Cerrone last appeared in the Octagon in September 2020, brawling to a no-contest with Niko Price. The latter would have picked up the decision if not for repeated eye pokes in the opening round, which cost him a point.
After the bout, which marked the fifth straight that Cerrone failed to win, president Dana White hinted he wouldn't offer the 37-year-old another fight.
"I love 'Cowboy,' and I know this is going to f------ crush him and break his heart, but it's time to have a conversation with him," White said. "I've got to have this conversation and see what he says. I know what he's going to say: 'I don't want to stop.' But we've got to have the conversation."
Cerrone holds the UFC record with 23 wins but hasn't tasted victory since defeating Al Iaquinta in May 2019.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| June 2019 | Tony Ferguson | Lost via TKO |
| Sept. 2019 | Justin Gathje | Lost via TKO |
| Jan. 2020 | Conor McGregor | Lost via TKO |
| May 2020 | Anthony Pettis | Lost via UD |
| Sept. 2020 | Niko Price | No contest |
Sanchez, 39, is known best for winning the middleweight tournament on "The Ultimate Fighter 1" but hasn't had a ton of success since then. He last fought in September 2020, falling to Jake Matthews by unanimous decision.