Cerrone 'came off wrong' in appearance with MMAAA, isn't board member
"Cowboy" is pulling the reins on talk that he's leading an open rebellion against the UFC.
Less than a week after emerging as one of the faces of the newly formed Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association, Donald Cerrone is making a concerted effort to downplay his involvement with the group.
On Wednesday, Cerrone told reporters at an open workout in Toronto that while he stood by the association's goal of greater financial rights and benefits for fighters, he also wanted to make it clear that he's leaving the planning to others.
"As far as the Association goes man, Georges (St-Pierre) and Tim (Kennedy) called me and asked me to be part of it," Cerrone said, according to Chuck Mindenhall of MMA Fighting. "I didn't know I was sitting on a board. That kind of took me by surprise, sitting there like, 'Oh wow.'"
The 33-year-old welterweight confirmed that he has a good relationship with Dana White and that the UFC president spent a considerable amount of time and resources to help him out of legal trouble in the past. According to Cerrone, it isn't his intention to threaten a "strike" and his appearance with the association "came off wrong."
Cerrone also appeared to take issue with some of the MMAAA's participants, which includes his fellow fighters as well as former Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, a figure who has generated much controversy over the years. However, Cerrone did not specify who he was talking about.
"There were a couple of people that were there that I don't plan on working with and being a part of, not mentioning any names," Cerrone said. "I was there mostly just, not saying I'm leading a board or I'm sitting on a board, but more voicing my opinion of what this sport needs.
"Moving forward, I’m still going to stand strong with those and say this is what I believe we need. I believe as a whole we need healthcare, we need some kind of pension for retirement. The UFC has been nothing but great to me. I can’t complain, they give me what I want."
Cerrone fights Matt Brown at UFC 206 on Saturday at Air Canada Centre.