Fighting Not the Only Sporting Interest for Cerrone in 2012

---

With a win over Nate Diaz at UFC 141 on Friday, Donald Cerrone will have staked his claim to the best year of anyone in mixed martial arts not named Jon Jones.

While it's clear that "Cowboy" wants to remain as active as possible inside the Octagon in 2012 -- title shot or not -- he also has some other interesting plans in mind. When all is said and done, the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout could be the sport's answer to Bo Jackson.

"My two goals next year (are): I'm trying to work with the PBR (Professional Bull Riders, Inc.). I actually want to ride," Cerrone told Sherdog.com. "I want to work with the UFC and work with the PBR and make a publicity junket out of it. Get on one of the baddest m-----------s. Why not? I'm (also) gonna become a pro wakeboarder next year, that's one of the goals I got."

Before his fighting career took off, Cerrone was a bull rider, competing on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, which is a step below the PBR. Bull riding remains a passion for the Colorado native, even if he hasn't done it at a competitive level in quite some time.

"I've ridden tons of bulls. I've ridden bulls before a couple of my fights -- about a week before (a fight). This summer, I believe it was before the Vagner Rocha fight. That's what I do," Cerrone said. "This summer I'm really gonna start chasing rodeo. Just once. Just one time."

The risk-taking nature of the former World Extreme Cagefighting star comes as no surprise to those around him, and now it appears that some of that passion has carried over to wakeboarding, as well.

"He's such a character," said striking coach Mike Winkeljohn. "I just heard the other day that he went wakeboarding the day before weigh-ins on his last fight. What a crazy kid. You got to love him. He's that guy."

Cerrone is aware that his extracurricular ventures might not please UFC brass, especially after victories over Paul Kelly, Rocha, Charles Oliveira and Dennis Siver have rocketed him to prominence in the lightweight division. As one of the promotion's go-to guys at 155 pounds, Cerrone could be deemed too valuable to risk injury testing his mettle in other sports.

"They'll probably pull the plug, I don't know," he said. "It would be cool for them to be like, 'Go ahead.' If they say yeah, I say we go for it."