"Your brain doesn’t heal from steroids" - MMA champion warns Donald Cerrone against return, blames Conor McGregor for normalizing substance use

An MMA champion has criticized both Donald Cerrone and Conor McGregor in the wake of Cerrone's much-discussed comeback announcement. The fighter seemingly accused McGregor of using PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) and encouraging others to do the same.

The fighter in question is Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen (16-0 MMA). The 32-year-old American last defeated Fabian Edwards via unanimous decision in their rematch at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants on Oct. 19, 2024.

The 41-year-old Donald Cerrone (36-17, 2 No Contests) is considered an MMA legend. 'Cowboy' retired after his second-round submission defeat in his rematch against Jim Miller at UFC 276 in July 2022. The American notably faced combat sports megastar Conor McGregor back in January 2020 and was stopped via first-round TKO.

Ireland's McGregor (22-6 MMA) is a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. The MMA great hasn't competed since suffering a leg injury at UFC 264 in July 2021. 'The Notorious' bulked up during his hiatus, leading some to accuse him of using banned PEDs/steroids to do so. The 36-year-old has refuted the allegations.

Meanwhile, Cerrone publicly declared that he's been using steroids since retiring from the sport. The American, who's competed in 48 fights in the WEC and UFC combined, recently put forth an Instagram video, announcing his MMA return. He vowed to get off the steroids and test clean. He aims to take two fights, notch a total of 50 WEC/UFC fights, and retire again.

Check out Donald Cerrone's announcement below:

In the wake of Donald Cerrone's aforementioned announcement, Johnny Eblen responded to a tweet about the same and wrote:

"Does a bunch of steroids and comes back"

During the post-fight press conference after his win over Edwards, Eblen was asked about his issue with Cerrone. 'Pressure' responded by lambasting 'Cowboy.' Eblen, whose grappling-heavy performance was derided by Conor McGregor, took aim at him as well and stated:

"I just don't think it's a good idea to retire, take a bunch of steroids, and then come back and fight again. It's not a good look, man. You know, I think Conor paved the way. And I think he's influencing a lot of other people to do it. And I think people are trying to fight past their prime and use all these substances. And it's just not natural, and it's not good."

"And your brain doesn't heal from steroids, so all that CTE [Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy] just adds up. So yeah, I'm very against steroids. I'm very against people fighting past their prime," he added.

Check out Johnny Eblen's comments below (2:26):

---

Dana White reiterates disapproval of Donald Cerrone's UFC comeback plan

During a DWCS (Dana White's Contender Series) post-event press conference, UFC CEO and president Dana White indicated that Donald Cerrone has forged a great legacy and could pursue other endeavors for money. Daniel Cormier and others similarly opposed Cerrone's return.

On Robert Griffin III's Outta Pocket podcast, White reaffirmed his stance. He explained that some athletes unretire because they miss the wealth and adulation that comes with sports competition. White emphasized that a sports career is an opportunity, not a job, and that a smooth transition to other avenues is paramount for retired athletes. He said:

"He's already proved everything there is to prove. I don't wanna see the guy take any more damage."

Check out Dana White's assessment below (4:55-7:35):