Donald Cerrone on 'Mr. Press Conference' McGregor, why he skipped UFC on FOX 19

LAS VEGAS – UFC lightweight Donald Cerrone has some sympathy for featherweight champ Conor McGregor, but only so much.

And that’s especially when it involves the amount of money McGregor is not going to make for bowing out of July’s UFC 200, Cerrone told reporters backstage at this past Saturday’s UFC 197 event.

“For ‘Mr. Press Conference’ not to want to do a press conference is insane,” Cerrone (29-7 MMA, 16-4 UFC) , who next fights Patrick Cote (23-9 MMA, 10-9 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 89, said backstage MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. “They’re talking upwards of $8 (million), $9 million dollars he’s throwing away. I would literally ride a rocket ship to the moon for six months for $10 million to do a press conference.”

McGregor, you see, isn’t the only fighter that likes to make and spend money. Cerrone’s spending habits are well-known among friends and industry insiders, though he’s thus far taken the approach that fighting as many times as possible is the best way to make the most cash (and as yet, he has yet to win a title that offers McGregor-level payouts).

It’s that attitude that prompted Cerrone to tweet, as he always does, when a fill-in opportunity arose in the wake of McGregor’s (19-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) departure from a bout with Nate Diaz (19-10 MMA, 14-8 UFC) on the July 9 pay-per-view card. He sent a text to UFC President Dana White.

“I’ll fight Diaz at 200, and I don’t need any more money,” Cerrone told reporters.

It’s that workmanlike attitude that informs Cerrone’s opinion on McGregor’s choice to walk away from a huge payday, saying the Irish champ ultimately is a “monkey” whose job it is to talk as well as fight.

“Our job is to entertain,” Cerrone said. “That’s what we do; it’s part of the job. When you sign on the ‘X,’ I have to do all the media obligations for Ottawa (at UFC Fight Night 89). You think I want to? It’s just part of the job. It’s what we have to do.”

Sometimes, however, talking doesn’t get you the job. Cerrone also addressed a ill-fated booking against Khabib Nurmagomedov earlier this month at UFC on FOX 19, giving his side of a story on why the fight fell apart at the last moment.

“I called Dana (White), said (I wanted) the fight, and he asked me why and I said, ‘Because I want to do it,’” Cerrone explained. “He said, ‘OK, done deal.’ He sent me the contract. Khabib got the contract.”

But that wasn’t where things ended. After the initial agreement, it was White had some reservations and pulled the plug amid finger-pointing between Cerrone and Nurmagomedov.

The fighters, who’ve seen three potential bookings scuttled, made it seem like one of them wasn’t being truthful. But in the end, the shift was brought by the promotion.

“Dana returned my call and said, ’This fight doesn’t make sense. We’re not even going to do it. We’re going to act like it never even got offered, it never even happened,’” Cerrone said. “And then Khabib was saying I got injured, or whatever, and he was sending me pictures of his signed contract. Yeah, mine was signed too, man. It’s just Dana called me and said, ‘It doesn’t make any sense. We’re not going to take you off Ottawa when we need to sell tickets. That’s the end of story.’”

For Cerrone, the whole exchange was a perfect example of how at the end of the day, decisions about the schedule ultimately fall at the promotion’s feet, because the company is the one that makes the final signature on a bout agreement.

“You want to talk about puppet, I’m the puppet,” he said. “I’ve got no say. I put my hat in the bucket – it didn’t work out, man.

“I would have loved to take the fight. I stay in shape, especially at 170. I would have tried to make 155, but they said 170. He went out there and won, got some money in his pocket. We’ll meet up one day, I’m sure.”

Now, Cerrone will get on to his next moneymaking venture – a meeting with Cote in Canada. UFC Fight Night 89, which takes place June 18 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It’s expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Cerrone is debating whether or not it’s worth it to drive his RV up north.

Check out the above video to get Cerrone’s thoughts on McGregor, his fight with Cote, and the situation with Nurmagomedov.

For more on UFC Fight Night 89, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.