PUEBLO, Colo. – UFC legend Cowboy Cerrone may have gotten on bulls as a teenager in Colorado, but he’s now found out how rank PBR bulls are – even in the practice pen.

Attempting to ride a practice bull in Texas to prepare for his matchup with Dana White’s Twisted Steel on Saturday, May 18 in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium during the first night of competition for the 2024 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Championship, Cerrone tore the bicep in his riding arm clean off the bone.

Following emergency surgery, he is unable to participate in the highly anticipated showdown that started with a challenge Cerrone issued in January when watching the rank bull buck at Madison Square Garden.

“My arm was hurt pretty bad – a 100% bicep tear off the bone,” Cerrone said. “Guess you mess with the bull you sometimes get the horns. This is not the end. I will rehab and get back after it. I still want my shot at Twisted Steel.”

“I thought this was a bad idea for Cowboy from the start,” said bull owner Dana White, UFC President & CEO. “Twisted Steel is the nastiest bull in the PBR. He’s bucked 90% of his riders. Let’s leave it to the pros at the PBR World Finals in Arlington.”

Following his audacious challenge that White accepted on social media, Cerrone had been attempting practice bulls beginning in February under the tutelage of experienced bull riders including two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney, head coach of the Oklahoma Wildcatters and Ross Coleman, head coach of the Missouri Thunder in the PBR Teams league.

Cerrone was to receive $50,000 from White for attempting to ride the six-year-old bull, whose record is 35-4, and another $50,000 if he successfully stayed on 8 seconds for a qualified ride, a sum Cerrone said would be donated to his summer camp for youth.

“Even the world’s best riders suffer injuries; it’s not if, but when and how bad,” said Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner, PBR.

“Cowboy had an uphill battle even against the bulls in the practice pen. But we have great respect for how seriously he took the challenge, and maybe we’ll get him on one when he heals up. It just won’t be Twisted Steel!”

Bull riding is known as one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Cerrone, regarded as an athlete who took on any fight offered over a 38-bout 11-year UFC career, found that out in training for his showdown with Twisted Steel.

Photo courtesy of Matt Williams