On this day in 2015, a legend of the sport confirmed itself as the next title -seconder in the lightweight division.
When Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone entered the modern wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023, he did it with one of the most impressive highlights of every mixed war artist.
Cerrone may intend to return, but his legacy was already assured that he was in 2022 where he put the gloves down after sharing the Octagon with Jim Miller on UFC 276.
If there is one strike in particular for which 'Cowboy' was best known, it was his characteristic main kicks that could end the fight in one devastating movement.
One of his very best stairs was delivered on the same night that Daniel Cormier Anthony beat Johnson to win the empty light heavyweight title.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone broke John Makdessi's jaw on UFC 187 on this day in 2015
On UFC 187, Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone was confronted with the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
With both men with extensive winning stripes on 155 pounds, it was expected that the winner would be confronted with the new champion, Rafael Dos Anjos, with whom both men had history.
Nurmagomedov pulled himself out of the fight a few weeks ago and was replaced by Canada's John Makdessi, who finished a first round the first round on UFC 186.
Many expected the fight to be a mismatch and that took place on the main map, while Cerrone with his superior striking one continued to grab with his opponent.
In the second round, 'Cowboy' unleashed one of his famous main kicks that landed clean, where Makdessi immediately signaled to the referee and his opponent that the fight had to be stopped.
Jason Herzog waved the fight with Makdessi and later revealed that he had broken his jaw, an injury that kept him out of operation for most of the year.
Cerrone went out Dos Anjos for the lightweight title in December, where the champion retained his title in just over a minute.
UFC 187 would also see a future lightweight champion make his Octagon debut
Together with Donald Cerrone who earned the next lightweight title shot, UFC 187 was a very important moment for the division for another reason.
In the second fight of the night, Islam Makhachev would walk for the first time and arrive in the promotion with a perfect record of 11-0.
He expanded this winning series by submitting America's Leo Kanz in the second round with both men who debuted their octagon.
Makhachev would return to UFC 192 later that year, where he suffered his first and only defeat, eliminated by Adriano Martins in the first round.