Is Cowboy Really a "Legend"?

[MawrSeneca]

If he gets into the hall of fame I think the prestige should be called into question (which it already is). Cowboy shat the bed so many times he made it to the top that he's auto disqualified for me. I consider Royce, GSP, Silva legends of the sport. Not trying to bash the guy, he was just good enough but never the best at any period which is what defines a legend.

 

[HHJ]

He just retired. It hasn't even been a week yet. Put the knives away

 

[tritestill]

Legends do legendary things and he's a legend in my eyes. All Legends are not within the same standing either.

 

[Stoic]

Yes, he is washed up now, but he's still a legend and first ballad HOF'er. Robbie Lawler is also clearly washed-up, doesn't change the fact that he is a first ballot HOF'er as well. Was Jordan on the Wizards not a first ballot HOF'er because he was washed up? What a terrible thread and argument.

 

[fzoid4454]

people like to throw out these hyperbolic terms once someone retires (or dies).

you have sherdoggers acting like they weren't just calling Cowboy a bum a month ago,

and now that he's retired he's one of the best LW's to ever compete?

Cowboy ain't a legend. a good fighter but not a legend. if we make an exception for Cowboy being some legendary fighter, then I guess guys like Joe Lauzon & Gray Maynard are also "legends"

He was a title contender for a long time, who fought versatile, exciting fights, and fought often. At the end of his career, he was overmatched, but he's a legend for what he delivered to the fans on a regular, frequent basis more than for the peak height that he attained.

And, yes, a month ago, someone calling him a "bum" would be them talking about how much he's declined at the end of his career, not him never, ever being a wonderful, elite, exciting and entertaining fighter.

But, if you have the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel, I can see where you'd struggle to keep those non-contradictory threads of thought going at the same time.

And no, Lauzon and Maynard don't compare, so that's some false equivalence you're trotting out.

 

[Substance Abuse]

people like to throw out these hyperbolic terms once someone retires (or dies).

you have sherdoggers acting like they weren't just calling Cowboy a bum a month ago,

and now that he's retired he's one of the best LW's to ever compete?

Cowboy ain't a legend. a good fighter but not a legend. if we make an exception for Cowboy being some legendary fighter, then I guess guys like Joe Lauzon & Gray Maynard are also "legends"

 

[Substance Abuse]

I’ve heard too many stories of his behavior outside the octagon for me to consider him at all..

Ray Lewis is in the Hall of Fame. Lawrence Taylor is in the Hall of Fame. Dennis Rodman is. Off the field/out of the cage stuff shouldn't really matter all that much unless it's all time bad stuff, in my opinion.

 

[BayAreaGuy]

Legend is way overused in MMA because it's a relatively new sport.

If you were ask people the current ACTIVE legends in boxing, football, basketball, etc... It would be a small list.

But in MMA, it seems like anyone with lots of wins who's competed for 10 years is a legend.

 

[fzoid4454]

I'm the same way, most people toss around the words "legend" and "hall of famer" way too casually. Everyone who's touched a belt or run up a ton of wins through sheer longevity is a "legend", that's just stupid. IMO the only legends on the current UFC roster are Aldo, Jones, and Shogun, with Cruz being a maybe. That's how high the bar should be set.

As much as I like Cowboy, he's nowhere close to those guys in terms of accomplishments & influence on the sport.

Forrest Griffin and Stefan Bonner are in the UFC HOF, and are considered "legends" because of it. Cowboy is certainly much better than them in terms of skills.

Legends aren't just talked about in the kind of GOAT context, of who would beat whom. What they bring to the sport, and what they brought for the fans is a legitimate factor in throwing that term around.

 

[fzoid4454]

so basically all those stats have to do with having a lot of fights. amazing!

And you don't get to have that many fights in the UFC without being very good, winning a lot, and being entertaining.

Amazing that you're stupid enough to need that explained to you.

 

[linvillegorge]

Lets see.

#2 all time most UFC fights with 38
#2 all time most UFC wins with 23
#2 all time most finishes with 16
#2 all time most significant strikes landed
#1 all time most knockdowns
#1 all time most bonuses

I'd say it's safe to say yes.

 

[Clark Rogers]

legend =/= GOAT imo.

you can have a legendary career for various reasons. longevity, willingness to take on anybody, grit, all sorts of other reasons... for me, Cowboy qualifies, even though he wasn't one of the GOAT type candidates. he stayed in the top 10-15 for a long ass time, had ups and downs but damn near always put on a good show, was great in WEC, and holds a ton of records that you don't get without longevity, grit, etc.

 

[linvillegorge]

For me, he absolutely is. But I'm admittedly a weird fan. I really don't give a fuck about belts. I'm not making PPV points. Why do I care about a title? I care about fun fights. Cowboy constantly took fights on late notice, virtually never pulled out of fights, never made excuses for losses, and never had a boring fight. That's fucking legendary in and of itself. Then factor in the longevity, the wins, the finishes, the highlight reels. Legend.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Donald Cerrone has fought on Spike, Versus, FUEL TV, pay-per-view, FOX, FS1, UFC Fight Pass, ESPN, and ESPN+ during his UFC tenure.

-Cerrone competed in his 38th UFC bout for the 2nd most appearances in company history.
-Cerrone made his 48th UFC/WEC appearance, the most in combined organizational history.
-Cerrone’s 48 appearances in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are most in combined organizational history.
-Cerrone made his 15th UFC welterweight appearance. He’s 6-8 with one no contest when fighting in the weight class.
-Cerrone’s 27 appearances since 2014 in UFC competition are most in the company.
-Cerrone’s 23 victories in UFC competition are the 2nd most in company history.
-Cerrone’s 29 victories in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are most in combined organization history.
-Cerrone’s 17 victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Jim Miller.
-Cerrone’s 16 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied for 2nd most in company history.
-Cerrone’s 20 stoppage victories in UFC/WEC competition are the most in combined organizational history.
-Cerrone’s 20 stoppage victories in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are tied with Wanderlei Silva for second most in combined organizational history behind Mirko Cro Cop (21).
-Cerrone’s seven knockout victories stemming from kicks in UFC competition are most in company history. No one else has more than four.
-Cerrone’s 20 knockdowns landed in UFC competition are most in company history.
-Cerrone has landed 391 leg kicks in UFC competition, the second most in company history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (488).
-Cerrone’s 23 fight-night bonuses in UFC/WEC bouts are the most in combined organizational history.
-Cerrone’s 18 fight-night bonuses in UFC bouts are tied for most in company history.
-Cerrone is the only fighter that has fought 4x in a calendar year, 6x, stepping up on days/weeks notice, snatching wins and bonuses, stealing the show, and saving cards with his highlight reel finishes.

There is no one like Cowboy Cerrone who really lived up the any time, any where, any weight mentality.

He struggled a lot mentally throughout his career and that held him back from greatness. imho

 

[Steve Fox]

Ofc he is you fucking casual. Cowboy marked a generation of fans.

 

[Dr.Phil is in my closet]

I'll always remember him as the guy who choked in big fights and had no heart, but could be a "world beater" at times
And McGregor running him over in one round
And Nate beating the shit out of him
And dos anjos smashing him twice
And Pettis smashing his liver
And bendo beating him twice
He's supposed to be a real bastard in person, so fook em

 

[NationWideNinja]

I mean, apart from the records he holds that have been posted here, he also holds wins over some good/great names.

Jamie Varner
James Krause
Charles Oliveira
Jeremy Stephens
Melvin Guillard
Evan Dunham
Edson Barboza
Jim Miller
Eddie Alvarez
Benson Henderson
Cowboy Oliveira
Patrick Cote
Rick Story
Matt Brown
Alex Hernandez
Al Iaquinta

I’d say he’s a legend. What makes me not 100% confident in saying that is that he’d lose whenever he faced an elite opponent, and he wouldnt just lose, he would get destroyed.

 

[Minnja]

"You Either Leave A Coward Or Fight Long Enough To See Yourself Become The Bum." - Kenny Florian

The funniest and saddest thing is that that's actually extremely accurate when looking at social media lmfao.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

people like to throw out these hyperbolic terms once someone retires (or dies).

you have sherdoggers acting like they weren't just calling Cowboy a bum a month ago,

and now that he's retired he's one of the best LW's to ever compete?

Cowboy ain't a legend. a good fighter but not a legend. if we make an exception for Cowboy being some legendary fighter, then I guess guys like Joe Lauzon & Gray Maynard are also "legends"

Everyone you just named is a legend

<puh-lease75>

 

[ilfirin]

I mean, he was never going to win a title. But he was a good gatekeeper. Someone for younger fighters to test their skills on. Loves cosplay too.