[sigallery id=”oWJWs7NgSXi3Un6hsxTVPj” title=”Donald Cerrone” type=”sigallery”]
(Editor’s note: Updated at 6:10 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 10, 2016, to include Cerrone’s apology statement on Instagram, which he posted after the original publication of this story.)
Donald Cerrone is in hot water with the public, and maybe with the UFC, after dropping a homophobic slur during a Q&A at today’s UFC Fan Expo in Las Vegas.
Less than 24 hours after Amanda Nunes became the UFC’s first openly gay champion with a first-round submission of Miesha Tate in the UFC 200 main event, Cerrone (30-7 MMA, 17-4 UFC) used the slur.
It wasn’t directed at Nunes, but rather the performance of UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who beat Anderson Silva (33-8 MMA, 16-4 UFC) by unanimous decision on the pay-per-view main card at T-Mobile Arena.
Cormier used a wrestling-heavy game plan to dominate Silva on the ground, a strategy Cerrone didn’t seem fond of when answering questions with fellow UFC fighter Phil “CM Punk” Brooks.
“Your boy ‘DC’ – terrible,” Cerrone said. “Terrible. How you going to give up weight and fight like a f-g, man?”
Cerrone’s comments immediately made waves, and there may be consequences.
A senior UFC official told MMAjunkie that the organization was “incredibly disappointed by Cerrone’s comment at today’s UFC Fan Expo” and will be meeting with him to discuss the severity of the situation.
The official added: “The organization is a proud advocate for equality and Cerrone will be educated on the issues impacting the LGBTQ community, particularly related to the sensitivity surrounding his choice of words today.”
Around 6 p.m. ET, Cerrone posted an apology on his Instagram account. In the photo he included, he is wearing a recently released UFC “rainbow” shirt in support of the LGBTQ community that states “We are all fighters.”
“Earlier today, I said something that was offensive & I’m truly sorry. I’ve got so many friends and fans in the LGBTQ community who I let down today. I can and will be better because I respect the community and equality matters!#WeAreAllFighters @ufc,” Cerrone posted.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHsmPnaBvm9/?taken-by=cowboycerrone
Cerrone (30-7 MMA, 17-4 UFC) is on a three-fight winning streak at welterweight after losing a lightweight title shot this past December. He’s scheduled to fight Rick Story (19-8 UFC, 12-6 UFC) at UFC 202 next month in Las Vegas.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
