UFC: Donald Cerrone cooperating with authorities on alleged boating incident

Donald Cerrone declined comment both directly and through officials, but the UFC said the lightweight is cooperating with authorities following an alleged “boating rage” incident two months ago in Colorado.

“We are aware of the situation and understand that Mr. Cerrone is fully cooperating with the investigation,” a UFC official stated in an email to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). 

On June 29 at 8 p.m., Cerrone (20-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC) was at the Lake Granby Columbine Bay area when he was charged with third-degree assault by the Grand County (Colo.) Sheriff’s Department, according to a police report released by the Grand County District Attorney’s office. 

According to a report Tuesday on CagePotato.com, Cerrone and another man, Jeffrey S. Aley, were involved in the boating rage incident that escalated to the point where Cerrone allegedly assaulted Aley, who also was hit with misdemeanor charges of reckless operation of a boat and reckless endangerment.

The report said there is no warrant against Cerrone, who is due in court in October. 

Cerrone, who next week co-headlines UFC Fight Night 27 opposite Rafael dos Anjos at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, faces jail time and fines if convicted of assault. 

The 30-year-old fighter most recently appeared in the cage at UFC 160, where he met K.J. Noons and dominated the fight en route to a unanimous decision. The win put him back on the right track following a first-round TKO loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC on FOX 6. 

After transitioning from the WEC, Cerrone, a two-time lightweight challenger in the now-defunct promotion, won four straight before a decision loss to Nate Diaz halted his momentum. 

In June, Cerrone tapped NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick to represent him as an MMA fighter. Harvick and his reps were unreachable for comment. 

For more details on this story as it develops, stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com. And for more on UFC Fight Night 27, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Donald Cerrone)