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Tag: Daniel Cormier

  • ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

    ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

    Alex Pereira is easily the biggest star in the UFC right now. Other big names in the promotion are either nearing retirement or losing fights while the Brazilian just keeps showing up every two months and knocking his opponents out.

    Pereira’s UFC 307 title defense against Khalil Rountree was widely regarded as an impressive performance in MMA circles. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin survived the challenger’s best punches and offense in the first two rounds, then broke him down in the third and fourth.

    Pereira boasts a wealth of experience in kickboxing but has become a top draw in MMA within just 14 pro fights. According to Daniel Cormier, if the former UFC middleweight champion keeps improving his skill set, the best might be yet to come…

    Daniel Cormier And Chael Sonnen Discuss Why Alex Pereira Taking Over MMA Doesn’t Make Sense

    During the latest Good Guy / Bad Guy episode on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, UFC vets Cormier and Chael Sonnen talked about Pereira’s meteoric rise. He’s one of the top pound-for-pound athletes in the UFC, and despite not speaking English, boasts millions of fans worldwide.

    Although many complain that “Poatan” is yet to be tested by a solid grappler, Cormier considers it a silver lining. He believes the Brazilian had already won six title fights with a rather finite skillset and he’s only going to improve from here.

    Pereira has been training with Glover Teixeira throughout his MMA career and the latter is as knowledgeable in grappling and BJJ as it gets. If the UFC champ can add takedown defense and decent grappling to his arsenal as well, Cormier is right in predicting Pereira to be unstoppable. José Aldo is a great example of an elite striker who reached unprecedented heights by mastering the ability to defend takedowns.

    “On Saturday, it seemed like we saw the best Pereira. But did we? We saw a great Pereira doing the thing that he does so well. But he’s an amateur. So, he’s going to get even better. So, now you got a guy that’s a world champ already, with a very limited skillset that every new skill he picks up, is going to just add to his toolbox. Like how scary is it? When we truly, the idea of what we get when Alex Pereira is complete because, right now, as I said, he just won his 10th fight. He only has 12 mixed martial arts fights in total.”

    Indeed, Pereira has yet to face grapplers who can test his ground game properly. For instance, Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad shut down precise strikers like Sean O’Malley and Leon Edwards, respectively.

    If “Poatan” can get past Magomed Ankalaev or heavyweights like Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones, though, he will undoubtedly become one of the scariest fighters on the planet by far.

  • Former UFC Champ Highlights ‘Weirdest Thing’ About Fighting Alex Pereira

    Former UFC Champ Highlights ‘Weirdest Thing’ About Fighting Alex Pereira

    Alex Pereira will defend his UFC light heavyweight champion against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 this weekend. Winning would help him break Ronda Rousey’s record and make him the UFC champion to defend their belt three times in the shortest duration.

    Pereira’s rise to the top of the sport is unprecedented. He got a title shot at Israel Adesanya after just three fights in the UFC and bagged the middleweight championship by knocking out the long-time champ in the fifth.

    After his only UFC loss to “The Last Stylebender”, “Poatan” has continued his impressive run in the light heavyweight division. According to Daniel Cormier, fighting the Brazilian is a huge mental challenge as well, and Rountree might be already doing better than the likes of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka…

    Daniel Cormier Gives Khalil Rountree The Edge Over Jamahal Hill And Jiří Procházka Ahead Of UFC 307 Title Fight Against Alex Pereira

    Cormier interviewed Rountree on his YouTube channel recently. When asked about the odds heavily favoring the champion, Rountree stated that people underestimate him because he doesn’t talk trash and is usually respectful during interviews.

    To this, Cormier couldn’t help but bring up how fighters act unusual before taking on Pereira. Hill used several antics to try and get into the UFC light heavyweight kingpin’s head, with DC recalling him trying to break the arrow during Pereira’s walkout at UFC 300. Following the KO loss, Hill has been called out by fans for making excuses as well.

    Prochazka, who’s lost twice to Pereira, recently claimed that the Brazilian uses black magic and spirits to beat his opponents. For someone as stoic as the Czech fighter, these claims were called strange by many.

    Rountree, according to Cormier, doesn’t seem to be acting unusual leading up to his UFC 307 title fight. He’s still the nice guy in interviews and isn’t feeling the pressure of facing an intimidating opponent like Pereira.

    “That’s you, right? That’s you! But, the weirdest thing about Pereira and dealing with Pereira, people start to act like not themselves. So, when he was walking to the Octagon, Jamahal Hill was like reaching over the cage like come on! He’s like very animated. Jiří Procházka is just doing all kind of weird s**t. Jiri doing all kind of crazy s**t up in there. He’s doing this, he’s doing.. Jiri’s just not acting like himself, right?”

  • ‘I Was Crushed’ – Khalil Rountree Shares ‘Super Emotional’ Story Sparring Pre-Strikeforce Daniel Cormier

    ‘I Was Crushed’ – Khalil Rountree Shares ‘Super Emotional’ Story Sparring Pre-Strikeforce Daniel Cormier

    MMA journalist Brett Okamoto left Daniel Cormier in shock by revealing that the former two-division UFC champ had sparred with Khalil Rountree way back in the 2000s. It was in Wanderlei Silva’s gym; both were quite new to MMA.

    Unsurprisingly, Cormier ended up rag-dolling Rountree with his wrestling. “The War Horse” was just starting to train MMA at the time while DC was close to fighting for Strikeforce after representing the USA in the Olympics. It is safe to assume that Rountree wasn’t mentally prepared to be manhandled.

    While Cormier might have treated the sparring session like any other, here’s how it became a significant learning experience for Rountree, who’s now challenging Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 307…

    Khalil Rountree Explains Why Sparring Daniel Cormier Made Him Want To Quit Fighting

    Cormier finally asked Rountree about their decade-old sparring session while interviewing the UFC 307 title challenger on his YouTube channel.

    “The War Horse” revealed that he, alongside DC, weighed in close to 280 pounds which explains why they were expected to spar together. Both UFC veterans were complete MMA amateurs at the time and as soon as Rountree started swinging, DC did what he knew best.

    “I was like, maybe 280, and you were coming in around the same. You were making your transition, about to fight in Strike Force. You came to Wanderlei’s to train. I was swinging and I hit you with some stuff and you picked me up and you slammed me. And you were all over me. I think we did two rounds. After that, I was like super emotional and my boxing coach came over. He wrote your name on a piece of paper, he put it in my shirt, he said go home and watch that on YouTube. And I typed your name, and I was like, ‘”Okay, that’s why!” You slammed me bro, it was like, and I didn’t even have an amateur fight yet.”

    As a big man, Rountree wasn’t used to being slammed and after two rounds, he couldn’t help but be demotivated. His boxing coach informed the UFC light heavyweight about Cormier’s accolades in wrestling which made him feel much better about the sparring session.

    Despite having no MMA experience, Cormier, by this time, had already been an Olympic wrestler and a well-known name in the wrestling community.

    “We were sparring and I was swinging boom, I must have hit you and you picked me and boom! I was crushed coz I was like damn, I’ve never been slammed like that in my life.”

    It’s very amusing to see how Cormier and Rountree crossed paths over a decade before and how different their lives have been since the sparring session. While DC has retired as one of the all-time greats, the latter aims to grab the title at UFC 307 and build a legacy of his own.

  • Daniel Cormier Remembers Tough Training Session With Khalil Rountree

    Daniel Cormier Remembers Tough Training Session With Khalil Rountree

    Khalil Rountree has had a truly remarkable journey through life and martial arts that has led him all the way to UFC 307 this weekend. In his 15th Octagon appearance, he will look to leave Salt Lake City as the light heavyweight champion by dethroning Alex Pereira.

    Rountree has really come into his own in recent years as one of the division’s most dangerous strikers who doesn’t let opponents off the hook once he has them hurt.

    Though he doesn’t plan on using his grappling at the Delta Center, a former UFC champion recently told a story about how a bad experience in training, which ended up being a vital lesson, had Rountree questioning what he was doing.

    Training With a Young Khalil Rountree

    On their last preview of UFC 307 before fight night, Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen got together in Salt Lake City for another episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy.

    During the episode, Cormier revealed that he had trained with Rountree over ten years ago but couldn’t remember it whatsoever.

    He recapped the story of how he went hard on the newcomer to the sport with his wrestling pedigree which after some wise words from his coach, ended up being a positive experience for Rountree who was at the very beginning of his career.

    “I got a story about me and Khalil, I guess we trained together and I just didn’t know it. Way back in 2011, Wanderlei Silva’s gym. Brett Okamoto told me that Khalil told him that he had just started, guy walks in, we start sparring. I obviously don’t know how to spar at that time, it’s 2010.

    He goes, I completely just started wrestling him and he said that when it was over, he was like, ‘I think I’m done fighting forever.’ He said his coach goes up to him and goes, ‘go and Google his name,’ saw my credentials in wrestling and was like, ‘okay, now I understand.’ But it taught him get better everywhere so this can never happen again.”

  • Daniel Cormier: Alex Pereira’s Rapid Development Could Change The Game At UFC 307

    Daniel Cormier: Alex Pereira’s Rapid Development Could Change The Game At UFC 307

    There aren’t many fighters in the history of MMA who have achieved the kind of success Alex Pereira has.

    A victory over Khalil Rountree this weekend at UFC 307 would allow Pereira to break the record for the fewest days needed to defend a UFC title three times.

    What makes this even more remarkable is that heading into this fight, his overall MMA record stands at just 11-2.

    When Pereira entered the UFC after a legendary kickboxing career, it was clear he would be a dangerous matchup for anyone in striking exchanges. However, questions arose about how quickly he could round out his overall game with limited time in the sport.

    “Poatan,” as he’s known, believes that he’s developing even faster than his competition because he still has so much to learn.

    Daniel Cormier Says Alex Pereira Believes He’s Catching Up Quickly

    On the final episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy before UFC 307, Daniel Cormier shared insights from his conversations with Pereira during fight week.

    “DC” explained that while Pereira was still essentially an amateur when he arrived in the UFC, Pereira feels like he’s covering a lot of ground between fights.

    Cormier described how Pereira is able to improve more than most elite fighters during his training camps, despite already being the top 205-pound fighter in the world.

    “We keep saying he’s an amateur, he recognizes that but also says, ‘If I’m the best in the world now, imagine what I can be.’ Isn’t that a crazy thought? He was an amateur and became the world champ. Our improvements are usually incremental—like footwork adjustments—but he’s getting better in wrestling, cardio, and the clinch. He’s literally improving leaps and bounds every time, and he’s already the world champion.”

    Read also: UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

  • Daniel Cormier Sees Khalil Rountree Fight As ‘Trap Game’ For Alex Pereira

    Daniel Cormier is slated to be on the call for the fight that will see Alex Pereira put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line in the headliner of this Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event against Khalil Rountree.

    Pereira is a -500 favorite over Rountree, who’s a +380 underdog. However, the former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion warns Pereira not to overlook the challenger. Cormier also cited how crazy things happen in Utah. 

    “That’s a big fight, but to play the devil’s advocate, in Utah, we have now seen Kamaru Usman dominating Leon Edwards, get knocked out at the very end and Edwards becoming champ,” Cormier said on his “Funky and the Champ” show (H/T to MMAJunkie.com) “We’ve also seen Dustin Poirier, who had beaten Justin Gaethje, knocked out, and Justin Gaethje become the BMF champion. So, if there’s anything to be said about Salt Lake City, upsets happen.”

    Daniel Cormier Feels That Overlooking Rountree Could Be A ‘Trap’ That Pereira Falls Into

    This fight makes Cormier feel like it could be a trap for the champion, and if he’s not ready, he could get caught by the dangerous challenger.

    “And it would seem that a guy who’s ranked number eight in the world taking on the champion is a blueprint for an upset, because in those moments, the champ may overlook him. I don’t know if Pereira will do that, but those are the times – they call them trap games in football. This feels like a trap game for Alex Pereira. And if he ain’t ready, it seems like Khalil Rountree with his power can knock him out.”

  • Daniel Cormier Admits He ‘Preferred’ That UFC Paris Fighter Suffered Brutal Knockout Rather Than Decision Loss

    Daniel Cormier Admits He ‘Preferred’ That UFC Paris Fighter Suffered Brutal Knockout Rather Than Decision Loss

    There were some huge highlights from the UFC’s return to Paris this past weekend but none caught the eye as much as the main card opener.

    Fares Ziam has continued to improve during his time on the roster but on home soil, he secured his biggest win and highlight to date.

    The French fighter was dominant against Matt Frevola but sealed his fourth consecutive win in the lightweight division with a devastating knee.

    Frevola knew that he needed to try and make something big happen to turn the fight around and as a result, was knocked out inside the Accor Arena.

    Daniel Cormier Says He Would Prefer What Happened To Matt Frevola Over Decision Verdict

    In their recap of the weekend’s action, Daniel Cormier had a bold take on this fight during the latest episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen.

    “DC” made a point to say that he likes when corners are honest with their fighters about how the fight is going, which is a fair observation to make regarding this bout.

    “Every time a guy’s losing two rounds to zero Chael and sometimes the coach goes, ‘Oh it might be one-to-one, it’s very close.’ And then there’s the other coach that goes, ‘You’re down two, we got to finish this guy.’ And I’m like, that’s the coach I love. I love that he tells his guy the truth.”

    However, where some people may disagree with Cormier’s approach is him stating that he would prefer what happened in this fight over Frevola losing the third round and therefore the decision.

    “I prefer what happened to Frevola than him going out there and just losing by decision and really not showing no oomph.”

    Of course, showing desire to go out there and pull off the win is important but that also can lead to significant damage, like what happened with Frevola.

    He did try to go out there and make a big impact in the third and final round but as a result, he was knocked out cold rather than being on the wrong end of a decision.

    “Leaves openings, that happens, it is what it is, people get knocked out but you give yourself an opportunity because we have seen on so many different occasions where the guy overcomes and wins a third period to win the fight.”

    Read also: Raquel Pennington: UFC Staff Told Me They ‘Love’ To See Julianna Peña Get Beat Up

  • Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career

    Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career

    In 2012, Kamaru Usman made his pro debut in MMA in what would be the start of an incredibly successful career.

    Like many martial artists that grew up in the United States, he came to the sport via a wrestling background – but there weren’t many role models for him to look up to.

    Having been born in Nigeria, Kamaru and his family moved to Dallas, Texas when he was just eight years old, which was a culture shock for him at the time.

    Usman eventually found the path that would lead him to become a UFC champion, thanks to some peers who inspired him.

    Kamaru Usman Details Daniel Cormier Meeting That Gave Him Something To Strive For

    On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman and Henry Cejudo were joined by former UFC champ-champ Daniel Cormier.

    Being eight years older, Cormier was someone that Usman looked up to when he first encountered him via wrestling.

    “DC” and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal weren’t just incredibly impressive wrestlers that inspired “The Nigerian Nightmare”, they were people that he could relate to.

    Usman told the story about the first time that he met Cormier in person, having seen him compete in wrestling, and how that impacted his own life and career trajectory.

    “We saw you guys [Cormier and Lawal] trying to sneak in, trying to get in to train, to practice while there was a break, so we ran up and we was like, ‘Yo, King Mo!’… you didn’t give me no damn hug. I would tell you this though, you did dap us up and you were just like, talked a little to us for a little bit, asked us what, and then my friend was like, ‘Yo I know what you did, I saw what you did at real pro wrestling.’ And I remember you going, ‘What you see?’

    “And you just joked with us and it was just that little moment, that little interaction that was so meaningful. We was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s these guys that look like us, they deal with similar circumstances that we have to deal with in this sport, and they’re at that level. Oh we can get there’. And I can’t tell you what that did for me.”

    Read also: MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

  • Former Opponent Feels LHW Jon Jones Would Fight Tom Aspinall Better Than Heavyweight

    Former Opponent Feels LHW Jon Jones Would Fight Tom Aspinall Better Than Heavyweight

    After vacating his UFC light heavyweight title, Jon Jones was inactive for three years until he finally came back as a heavyweight.

    He captured the heavyweight belt by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, but after suffering a significant injury, the champion has been gone for another long stretch of time.

    During that time, there has been a lot of talk about fans wanting him to fight the interim champion Tom Aspinall, who many believe is the present and future of the weight class.

    It looks far more likely that Jones will retire without facing Aspinall, after he meets Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 in November.

    Daniel Cormier Says Jon Jones Would Fight Better Against Tom Aspinall If He Weighed Less

    During his appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Daniel Cormier spoke about how Jones matches up with Aspinall.

    Having faced “Bones” on two occasions, “DC” said that he thinks whilst Jones’ experience is an advantage, he’s been through a lot of gruelling fights during his career.

    Cormier also said that another factor that makes him seriously consider whether Aspinall could be the first guy to beat the UFC heavyweight champion is the fact that Jones isn’t naturally suited to that weight class.

    He spent a lot of time building himself up to that frame but as a result, will sacrifice the speed that he had at light heavyweight.

    That makes Cormier believe that the heavyweight champ would fair better against a big, powerful and fast knockout artist like Aspinall if he was fighting at a smaller weight.

    “All those guys that fought him [Jones] close, that takes its toll. I think that this kid [Aspinall] is as dangerous for him as anyone he’s ever been in there with. Partly because that’s not his weight class. If he’s at 205, I bet if he’s weighing 215 [pounds], he would fight Tom Aspinall better than him weighing 245-pounds. 220 in his 205 frame, he could fight Tom Aspinall better then he’d fight him at 250 because while he didn’t last long with Ciryl, he didn’t look as fast.”

    Read also: MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

  • Daniel Cormier Recalls Hilarious Story Of Trying To Sell Fake Drugs & Getting Caught

    Daniel Cormier Recalls Hilarious Story Of Trying To Sell Fake Drugs & Getting Caught

    A lot of athletes who make their way into combat sports come from rough backgrounds, and Daniel Cormier was no different.

    Through the success that he has achieved in his career through determination and commitment, his children won’t have to battle the same struggles that he faced.

    In that same vein, “DC” is sure to be an inspiration to other athletes and young people who are working hard to try and provide a better life for their families.

    During a recent podcast appearance on Pound 4 Pound, he told a story about how the trappings of his surroundings nearly got to him.

    Daniel Cormier On Being Chased For Selling Fake Drugs & Correcting His Path

    After Kamaru Usman spoke about how Cormier was an inspiration to him in his life that helped him to follow the right path, “DC” spoke about how he nearly took a wrong turn in his.

    The former UFC champ-champ said that selling drugs was so prominent where he grew up, that it was difficult to avoid making the same mistakes as the people around him.

    However, a hilarious experience on his first attempt was enough to steer Cormier away from making a potentially life-changing decision.

    “It’s not easy to have the strength to not fall into the trap. There’s a trap. When you ain’t got no money and everybody else is selling dope, you want to sell dope to make some money. I tried that s*** one time, it was not good. Bro, I swear to god, it was the worst. I was the worst drug dealer of all time. Bro I was 16-years-old, we made fake drugs, it’s bad!

    “I give it to the guy, he realized it was fake. He start chasing me, he caught me, he was fast. I gave him the money back, I was like, ‘It’s a bad product man, here you go.’ Last time I ever tried that. I was so scared though. I was so scared that this dude was going to hurt me ‘cuz I was a kid. I was a state champion wrestler, I’m like, what am I doing here? But I fell into the trap.”

    Read also: MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

  • Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

    Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

    Count former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier among those incredibly excited for this weekend’s main event in Paris.

    For the third straight year, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is staging an event in the French capital in September. While the first two following the 2020 legalization of the sport in the European nation saw Ciryl Gane as the main attraction, Saturday’s card will be topped by a different French standout.

    Headlining inside the Accor Arena on September 29 is rising lightweight Benoît Saint Denis. “God of War” is returning to the cage after having his surge up the ladder stalled by top-five contender Dustin Poirier in Miami this past March.

    While Saint Denis started strong, the effects of a pre-fight staph infection appeared to hinder his gas tank and result in a knocking triumph for “The Diamond.”

    To get back to the kind of violent success he experienced before running into Poirier, the Frenchman must get past Renato Moicano. The #11-ranked contender has gotten the better of Drew Dober and Jalin Turner since returning from an injury layoff this year.

    The clash looks set to be an enthralling one, going down amid the usual electric atmosphere seen at MMA events in Paris. And in terms of the main event matchup, one former fighter-turned-color commentator doesn’t think there’s been much better for a UFC Fight Night in a while…

    Cormier Excited To Watch Moicano vs. Saint Denis At Often Skipped UFC Fight Night

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in France.

    “DC” gave props to both men for their skillsets and recent outings inside the Octagon, suggesting they’re likely to come together to put on an entertaining affair in Saturday’s main event.

    And despite admitting that he often chooses against watching the UFC Fight Night cards he isn’t commentating on, Cormier insisted he would not miss this one.

    “(Moicano’s) got a tough one against Benoît Saint Denis, who also fought well against Dustin,” Cormier said. “I think this is going to be a fantastic fight, and I do believe this is one of the better main events for a Fight Night that we’ve had in a really long time.

    “I’m watching it. Honestly, a lot of Saturdays when I’m at home, I choose other things to do. I go watch football, I go play — I do something,” Cormier continued. “Saturday night, I’m tapping into this one because I’ve got to watch Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis fight.”

    With all eyes on their crucial lightweight showdown, Moicano and Saint Denis will look to prove Cormier right unleashing fireworks when they share the cage inside the Accor Arena in a few days’ time.

  • Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Backup Role

    Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Backup Role

    Following the official announcement for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, Tom Aspinall was confirmed to be the back-up.

    Many have been campaiging for the interim champion to get the next shot at Jones’s heavyweight title, rather than the rescheduled clash with Miocic.

    Dana White said himself in a recent press conference that Aspinall is next for whatever happens in this division and will therefore, be in New York ready to make weight if required.

    However, this then opens up the question of whether Jones or Miocic would even contemplate fighting Aspinall on short notice, if either man does pull out before November 16.

    Daniel Cormier Calls Chael Sonnen ‘Gullible’ For Thinking That Jones & Miocic Agreed To Fight Aspinall

    In a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy, Chael Sonnen asked Daniel Cormier whether he could confirm that Aspinall being the back-up means that Jones and Miocic had to sign off on it.

    Cormier’s response was to laugh at Sonnen for even suggesting that this would be a possibility, labelling him as “gullible”.

    “No, it does not mean that. What it means is now we have another opportunity for disappointment. See that’s the difference between living, hey, that’s the difference between growing up in a mansion and growing up in the ghetto. In the ghetto, you learn to expect disappointment. You learn to be let down, that is just the way it is. So guess what Chael, now you have an opportunity to be let down so step into my shoes once. If one of those dudes get hurt, neither one of them is fighting Tom Aspinall. You’re out of your mind, no way.”

    To illustrate his point, Cormier pointed to UFC 295 last year where Jones did pull out of the fight but there was a back-up fighter on hand.

    Despite Sergei Pavlovich being ready to take his place, Miocic chose to wait for “Bones”, instead which led to the creation of the interim title which was won by Aspinall.

    Cormier finished his statement by making a bold prediction of what will actually happen if either man withdraws.

    “When Jon Jones got hurt the first time, Sergei Pavlovich was the back-up fighter, who fought? Who fought? If somebody gets hurt, get ready for Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, mark my words.”

    Read also: Former Champ Skeptical Of Michael Chandler Beating ‘Meaningful Favorite’ Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’

    Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is officially scheduled for November 17, 2024, at UFC 309. The fight was originally booked to headline Madison Square Garden in 2023 but was called off because of Jones’ injury.

    This time, Aspinall will be the backup fighter for the undisputed UFC heavyweight title fight. Considering he’s been the interim champ for almost a year and has defended the belt once, many fans want him to get at least a shot at earning undisputed gold.

    In contrast to Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier believes that if Jones vs. Miocic doesn’t happen, none of the UFC veterans will risk fighting Tom Aspinall.

    Daniel Cormier Compares Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic To Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira To Claim Back-Up Fighters Are Irrelevant

    Sonnen and Cormier discussed the UFC 309 main event on the latest episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the official ESPN MMA YouTube channel. “The American Gangster” stated that if Aspinall is officially the backup fighter, it is only after both “Bones” and Miocic have agreed to it.

    Cormier asked Sonnen to hold his horses, reminding him that Sergei Pavlovich was the backup fighter for Jones vs. Miocic in 2023. Similarly, Mateusz Gamrot was the backup fighter for Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev in 2023. While Pavlovich never got to fight any of the legends, Alexander Volkanovski hopped past Gamrot to fight Makhachev.

    After proving that the concept of a backup fighter is not as concrete as it sounds, Cormier also claimed that Jones and Miocic are unlikely to fight Aspinall as a backup. He admitted that none of the UFC greats are scared, but they can’t risk losing to him at the final stages of their careers.

    “It’s not even about being scared. It’s not even, it’s about risk management Chael. Whoever, if someone gets hurt in this fight, the reward versus the risk of fighting Tom Aspinall is so great, I don’t believe that either of them will do it. Love that it’s a part of the story now. We all love the story, we love a great story but I don’t know that plays.

    This applies greatly to Jones, who’s been technically undefeated his whole career. If he wants to go out with a perfect record, he’d prefer fighting an old but popular Miocic over Aspinall who’s knocking heavyweights out cold at a gallop.

    “I don’t think he’s scared Chael. But again, it’s risk vs. reward. Jon Jones, I will tell you this right now, Jon Jones. To his credit, a win over Tom Aspinall does nothing more for Jon Jones than a win over me or Vitor Belfort or Rashad Evans or Shogun Rua or Alexander Gustaffson and all these list of great fighters that he’s already beat.” Cormier added, “But losing to Tom Aspinall, losing to Tom Aspinall does do something because now you see him lose. He’s never lost. That matters to him now.”

  • Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier recently reacted to Jon Jones’ clearest retirement statement to date.

    Jones is set to make his first defense of the heavyweight title at UFC 309 this coming November, 20 months on from his crowning at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. The long wait was caused by an injury to the champ, which previously forced him out of a planned showdown with Stipe Miocic.

    In the time since their canceled title clash last November, the division has seen an interim titleholder crowned in Tom Aspinall, who has even notched a successful defense in 2024 by getting the better of Curtis Blaydes.

    While that’s left many calling for Jones to unify the title against the Brit, both he and the UFC have long remained firm on rebooking the Miocic matchup. “Bones” has been the subject of criticism for that, with plenty suggesting he’ll likely retire following the Nov. 16 event and avoid facing Aspinall.

    The chances of that increased a few days ago when Jones told Clocked N’ Loaded that Miocic will more than likely mark his final opponent.

    Cormier Pushes Back On Jones Retirement Before Facing Aspinall

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Ben Askren, Cormier reacted to Jones’ latest remarks while in Las Vegas for UFC 306 this past weekend.

    “DC” acknowledged that there isn’t much left at heavyweight that’s worth Jones prolonging his career for. But what there is, however, is an interim champ in Aspinall, and his presence is enough for Cormier to see Jones’ potential retirement as leaving incomplete work behind.

    “This is the fight that you want in Madison Square Garden, 1,000 percent,” Cormier said. “(But) hearing Jones say — or hearing the rumor that Jones said, ‘This is it for me,’ it sucks because I do believe that there is some work left to be done, with Aspinall mainly. I don’t think anyone else right now warrants him sticking around. We saw what he did to Ciryl Gane.

    “The guy’s obviously doing well, probably just doesn’t want to fight anymore. So what happens, right? You walk away,” Cormier continued. “I believe that when push comes to shove, they might nudge him if he gets through Stipe. They nudge you, they nudge you, they nudge you, and then you end up getting more money and then you ultimately fight.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Jones will follow through with his frequent hints at retirement come fight night at MSG.

    But with Tom Aspinall set to be in New York City as the backup fighter, it stands to reason that “Bones” will have a vocal interim counterpart in attendance as he announces his decision.

  • ‘Not The Funnest Fight’ – Daniel Cormier Compares UFC 306 Co-Main Event To Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    ‘Not The Funnest Fight’ – Daniel Cormier Compares UFC 306 Co-Main Event To Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    The first three fights on the UFC 306 main card had everyone hyped up. Ronaldo Rodriguez, Esteban Ribovics, and Diego Lopes secured decision wins but the back-and-forth action compensated for the lack of finishes.

    There was a mixed reaction towards the co-main and main event of the night in MMA circles, though. Alexa Grasso was completely dominated by Valentina Shevchenko in their trilogy after the exciting first two fights. Similarly, Sean O’Malley had a few good moments but had no answer for Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling and pace.

    Daniel Cormier compared the two title fights at UFC 306 and explained what made the main event relatively better than the co-main…

    Daniel Cormier Claims Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Was More Exciting Than Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko Despite Similar Outcome

    Cormier recently admitted Grasso vs. Shevchenko to be lackluster while reacting to UFC 306 on his YouTube channel. He hesitated but called “Bullet” the better fighter between the two.

    Although Dvalishvili had a similar game plan against O’Malley, the former UFC double champ credited “Suga” for maintaining threats throughout the fight. On the flip side, Grasso spent much of the fight trying to get back on her feet and gathering failed submission attempts.

    “It was not the funniest fight. It felt like the Merab fight was a little more intriguing because of the danger that Sean O’Malley always seemed to possess. But, Alexa just got dominated and she’s going to have to figure that out. She seemed to spend a lot of time trying to fight off of her back because she knew she would get taken down. But all that did was allow for time to run and when time runs and you’re on your back, you’re losing. Sure, she had some good submission attempts but that’s not enough.”

    “The Machine” beat O’Malley via decision comfortably but the latter landed several good shots and won the last round with constant body shots. Fans could sense a finish whenever the fight went to the feet.

    The former women’s UFC flyweight champion, according to Cormier, could not gain Shevchenko’s respect in striking or on the ground. He expected Grasso to show more urgency and hopes that she fixes these holes in her game going forward.

  • Daniel Cormier Describes High Stakes For Brian Ortega At Noche UFC: ‘If You Can’t Beat These Young Up & Comers…’ 

    Daniel Cormier Describes High Stakes For Brian Ortega At Noche UFC: ‘If You Can’t Beat These Young Up & Comers…’ 

    Daniel Cormier says the UFC’s upcoming Sphere show marks a crucial moment for Brian Ortega’s continued stay toward the top of the promotion.

    Plenty of storylines are set to play out at this weekend’s Noche UFC pay-per-view, with the most intriguing of which below the two championship headliners being a highly anticipated featherweight clash on the main card.

    A few months on from the same-day cancellation at UFC 303, Ortega and the surging Diego Lopes will give their matchup a second go at reaching the steel surroundings of the Octagon.

    For “T-City,” he’ll be fighting 10 places down the rankings against one of the most in-form contenders in the division. With the hype surrounding Lopes in mind, Cormier thinks a victory could net Ortega another shot at title glory.

    But a defeat? For “DC,” that could be all she wrote for Ortega’s appearances at the top of UFC cards…

    Cormier: Lopes Fight ‘Telling’ On Where Ortega’s Career Is At

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to Saturday’s event and assessed what’s at stake for one of the highest-ranked names on the lineup.

    While Ortega cemented his spot high up the pecking order by submitting Yair Rodríguez in his comeback fight this past February, “DC” believes a setback against the #13-ranked Lopes could be fatal for his continued stay at the top.

    “I think this fight is going to be very telling as to where Brian Ortega is in his career,” Cormier said. “If you can’t beat these young up-and-comers, it becomes difficult to stay where you’ve lived your entire career. Ortega has lived at the top of the card for as long as we can remember.

    “f he loses to a guy like Lopes — a guy who’s on a run, a guy who’s making his way to the top of the division — it becomes a bit of a changing of the guard,” Cormier continued. “But I think that happened in Mexico City. Brian Ortega was supposed to go lose to Yair Rodríguez. He got the job done and he looked very impressive in doing so. So this is a massive opportunity. … Ortega wins this fight, he’s gonna be right on the shortlist of guys that can compete for the belt.”

    Ortega will look to avoid the first of those fates mentioned by Cormier by stalling Lopes’ charge up the featherweight ladder come fight night at the Sphere on Sept. 14.

    Should the two-time title challenger accomplish that feat, he’ll no doubt place a close eye on the upcoming 145-pound championship clash between kingpin Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi.

  • ‘Is Star Power Enough?’ – Daniel Cormier Questions Jorge Masvidal Wanting To Fight Michael Chandler In UFC

    ‘Is Star Power Enough?’ – Daniel Cormier Questions Jorge Masvidal Wanting To Fight Michael Chandler In UFC

    Jorge Masvidal became one of the biggest stars in the UFC in 2019. He started the year by knocking out top prospect Darren Till and then delivered one of the fastest KOs in UFC history against Ben Askren.

    Masvidal was then offered to fight for the BMF title against Nate Diaz, which he won via doctor’s stoppage. So, just three fights turned the journeyman into a huge draw, helping him get two simultaneous title shots against Kamaru Usman as well.

    Masvidal has been retired from MMA for over a year now, but he’s teased a definite return to the UFC. Daniel Cormier has already raised concerns regarding the potential of this comeback…

    Daniel Cormier Doubts Fans Care About Jorge Masvidal Coming Back To The UFC For Michael Chandler Fight After ‘Fairytale Retirement’

    Cormier recently discussed Masvidal’s decision to fight in the UFC again on his official YouTube channel. Right away, he remembered “Gamebred” retiring after the Gilbert Burns fight and called it one of the best retirements ever for a UFC fighter.

    Masvidal was in an arena filled with fans from his hometown and his promotion Gamebread Bareknuckle MMA was also rising simultaneously. According to the former UFC heavyweight champion, being surrounded by supporters during your last fight while also having a new venture to focus on right away is the best way to walk out of the sport.

    “So, last year in Miami, We watched Jorge Masvidal fight against Gilbert Burns. He loses by decision. He has, what is honestly guys, one of the greatest retirements you could ever ask for in this sport. You’re in a full arena, you’re in your hometown, you just lost to guy that is still competing at the top of the division. Walk away, you’re walking into Gamebred boxing, fighting, bare knuckle MMA, it’s called something like that. But, you’re walking into your own organization where you get to be the boss. You just had a fairytale retirement.”

    DC pointed out that there is no shame in losing your last MMA fight to a top contender like Burns. However, all these narratives could change if Masvidal returns to the Octagon. Also, do fans still care about him now that the welterweight division is stacked with new contenders like Ian Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and Shavkat Rakhmonov?

    “Is star power enough? Because I can tell you this right now, if Nate Diaz was to say I’m coming back, people would get excited. Is Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal held in the same regard? I just don’t know where it’s coming from.”

    Cormier also appreciated Gamebread Bareknuckle MMA as the promotion has been able to sign big names and generate new talent. As a result, he’s more excited to see Masvidal grow his business instead of fighting at 39 years old in the UFC.

    “He’s 39 years old now, right? Best days would seem to be behind him. He’s lost four in a row. Can he recreate what he did before? And if he can, do we even care to jump on the ride? You guys let me know in those comments. In my regard, I believe with the work that he was doing outside of the Octagon, his promotion, seems to be doing well. I’m happy with seeing that man walk away.”

  • DC’s Coach Disputes Jon Jones GOAT Talk With One Name: Lance Armstrong

    DC’s Coach Disputes Jon Jones GOAT Talk With One Name: Lance Armstrong

    Daniel Cormier’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently stirred the debate around Jon Jones’ GOAT status by invoking a comparison to Lance Armstrong.

    In recent months, the conversation surrounding the pound-for-pound greatest MMA fighter of all time has intensified, with Jones’ name consistently leading the discussion. UFC CEO Dana White has been especially vocal, passionately championing the reigning heavyweight kingpin’s place at the top of the all-time rankings.

    Jones etched his name in the history books as the youngest champion in UFC history, seizing the light heavyweight title at just 23 years old with a commanding victory over Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011. Since that momentous win, “Bones” has stepped into the octagon for 15 title fights, emerging victorious in every single one, save for the no-contest in his rematch against Cormier at UFC 214 in July 2017.

    Jones’ resume is arguably unmatched in the sport, but his illustrious career has been marred by a series of high-profile scandals, most notably his positive test for the banned substance turinabol. This tainted legacy is precisely why Mendez believes that, despite his achievements, Jones is unworthy of the GOAT status…

    Mendez Asserts Jones’ Doping Test ‘Disqualifies’ Him From GOAT Status

    During a recent episode of the Javier Mendez Podcast, the renowned MMA coach weighed in on White’s persistent endorsement of Jones as the GOAT. Mendez drew a striking comparison between “Bones” and legendary cyclist Armstrong, who famously won the Tour de France a record seven times, only to have all his titles and accolades stripped away following his admission to using performance-enhancing drugs.

    “Dana is still insisting that Jon Jones is pound-for-pound #1,” Mendez said. “He has his valid points, but my valid point is I just want to say one thing: Lance Armstrong. Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France how many times, and basically, he got all those titles taken away from him because of one thing—doping. And even though it was many years later that they caught him, he lost all the Tour de France titles. Well, it’s been a fact, it’s been proven, Jon Jones has been caught doping. So, I’m sorry, I think that disqualifies him just based on that alone.”

    “Bones” has been inactive since his move to the heavyweight division in March 2023, where he made a triumphant debut by securing a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to clinch the vacant title.

    Jones was initially set to make his first title defense against former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November 2023. However, just days before the fight, the heavyweight champ had to pull out due to a shoulder injury. Now, the highly anticipated clash between the two is rumored to headline UFC 309, scheduled for November.

  • Daniel Cormier Highlights PEDs As Biggest Concern For Mike Tyson In Jake Paul Fight

    Daniel Cormier Highlights PEDs As Biggest Concern For Mike Tyson In Jake Paul Fight

    November 15 will see one of the biggest and most controversial boxing matches of all time take place when Jake Paul faces Mike Tyson in Arlington, Texas.

    Set to be the first live boxing event streamed on Netflix, the card is sure to draw huge numbers and demand a lot of attention.

    The question is whether this will, in turn, bring a lot of negativity to it because of the nature of the match-up.

    Regardless of any other health and physical factors, the just over 30-year age gap between them has made a lot of people speak out about their concerns for this fight and whether it should even be going ahead.

    Tyson is obviously a legend of the sport even with his experience and power, there’s a good chance that this fight could get ugly, especially once it goes past the first few rounds.

    Daniel Cormier Says Jake Paul’s Cardio & Output Concerns Him In Mike Tyson Fight

    What the fight looks like past the opening few minutes is something that Daniel Cormier has a big problem with.

    The former UFC two-weight world champion spoke during a recent episode of Funky and the Champ about how Paul is surely going to take over, even if the fight starts competitively.

    Cormier made reference to how this was the case in his recent fight with Mike Perry where even when “Platinum” was able to survive an early onslaught, “The Problem Child” was able to keep this pace up and put it on his opponent to get the finish.

    “DC” also stated how Paul has been accused of taking performance enhancing drugs in the past, which will only widen the gap in athletic ability between the two men.

    Like nearly every combat sports fan in the world, Cormier is a big fan of Tyson and doesn’t want to see a scenario where the fight starts to become uncomfortable if Paul starts to pull away due to his conditioning.

    “As the fight went longer, Jake Paul draws on this reserve, finishes Mike Perry. Many believe that in that reserve is a few banned things but at the end of the day, it allows for Jake to draw from that and put himself on the path to get a victory. That is my concern, because what if this thing looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man when Mike can’t draw from that reserve tank to stay and compete with this young kid.”

    Read also: Jon Jones Has NSFW Response To Tom Aspinall Labelling Him The ‘Champion Of Fight Dodging’: ‘I Absolutely Guarantee He Will Not Win…’

  • Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defense Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’

    Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defense Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’

    Alex Pereira will return at UFC 307 to defend his UFC light heavyweight championship against Khalil Rountree. A couple of weeks later, no. 2 ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev will fight no. 5 ranked Aleksandar Rakić in a potential title eliminator.

    The announcement has left fans divided with many complaining about the no. 8 ranked fighter getting a title shot. Top UFC light heavyweight contenders like Jamahal Hill and Jan Błachowicz have questioned the matchmaking process as well.

    On the flip side, admirers of Rountree’s explosive striking are expecting him to put on a great performance against Pereira. Here’s how Daniel Cormier looks at the UFC 307 main event and why he thinks it’s the right move by the UFC…

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Wouldn’t Put Alex Pereira Against Magomed Ankalaev Despite Him Being The Obvious Choice

    Cormier and Ben Askren discussed Pereira vs. Rountree on the former’s official YouTube channel recently. While Askren seemed perplexed by how “The War Horse” is fighting for the title, Cormier understood the decision because of Pereira’s growing stardom.

    “Ankalaev seems so obvious a choice but not really the choice because I wouldn’t put him in there with Alex right now. Like honestly, Alex Pereira is actually selling pay-per-views and he’s making money for you as a company. I don’t know if Ankalaev can do that right now.”

    By frequently fighting in major events like UFC 300, UFC 303, and now, UFC 307, “Poatan” has quickly amassed millions of fans. However, as per DC, he’s yet to be as big a star as Conor McGregor.

    The former UFC champ further explained that McGregor’s unprecedented stardom helped his opponents make a name for themselves by beating him. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier are fine examples of the same.

    “If you beat Conor McGregor, you become a pay-per-view attraction. If you beat certain guys, you kind of take their shine and you become that attraction. I don’t know if you beat Pereira, you become that attraction. I don’t know, I think he is the attraction. I don’t know, just by beating him, if he’s the big enough star yet to elevate the next guy to the point that they’re selling a whole bunch of paper.:

    Cormier believes that Pereira is yet to reach McGregor’s levels of popularity where he generates new stars, even while losing. As a result, the UFC would want to give “Poatan” favorable matchups and make him the center of attention for as long as possible. At the moment, the promotion won’t risk ending the reign of its biggest star in recent times.

    Read also: Sean O’Malley ‘Annoyed-ish’ At Noche UFC Fight Promotion After Getting Nod To Headline Over Holloway vs. Topuria, Conor McGregor

  • Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

    Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

    It has taken a long time for Dricus Du Plessis to get the respect that he believes he has always deserved, but his winning streak is becoming undeniable.

    With eight consecutive wins inside the Octagon, he has now beaten three former middleweight champions in his most recent outings.

    Finishing both Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, along with going the distance against Sean Strickland, has shown how “Stillknocks” is very effective despite his style not being the most technically sound.

    A rematch with Strickland makes a lot of sense for his next title defense given how close their first encounter was but there is also the potential for a huge fight against the champion at the weight class above, in the near future.

    Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Agree That Dricus Du Plessis Poses A Threat To Alex Pereira

    In order for Du Plessis to add yet another former middleweight champion to his record, he would need to face the current light heavyweight titleholder, Alex Pereira.

    At least on paper, many will point to how Du Plessis does tend to fight recklessly at points, which makes a clash with “Poatan” so dangerous for him.

    However, after watching what he was able to do against another elite striker in Adesanya this past weekend at UFC 305, Daniel Cormier spoke on the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA about his intrigue around that potential match-up:

    “DDP already said Chael, ‘It doesn’t have to be at ’85, I’m not giving you no excuse. I’ll come to 205 and fight you.’ After watching him, I don’t know that he don’t do well against Alex because of his wrestling and his ability to strike.”

    Cormier’s co-host Chael Sonnen agreed with him on this point, stating that we’re still learning what Du Plessis is capable of at this stage.

    “Wrong guy to mess with, I mean in all fairness, whatever Alex is seeing in DDP, Alex should know that’s what we all saw in Alex two years ago. We did not understand how great he is.”

    Read also: Sean Strickland’s Coach Expands On Strategy For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch: ‘It’s Gonna Be To The Death!’

  • Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

    Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

    It took a some animosity for ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier to see this weekend’s main event as a matchup worth getting excited for.

    Middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will put his title on the line for the first time in the headliner of the UFC 305 pay-per-view, where he’s tasked with stalling the three-time champ ambitions of Israel Adesanya.

    The pair will enter the cage inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, in the culmination of a feud sparked well over a year ago as a result of some controversial remarks from the then-future titleholder.

    In one of his early post-fight interviews in the UFC, “Stillknocks” branded himself the promotion’s “real African” fighter, referring to his continued stay in the continent. He reiterated that sentiment in regard to his pursuit of gold, vowing to become the first champion who was born, resides, and trains in Africa.

    The comments resulted in some tense exchanges with Adesanya, who recently berated his opponent’s “colonialist mindset” at the start of UFC 305 fight week.

    With that in mind, the sensitive nature of their bad blood shows no sign of waning as fight night approaches, and one former champ doesn’t see that as a bad thing…

    Cormier: ‘I Want To See The Fight’ Because Of Du Plessis & Adesanya’s Feud

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to this weekend’s PPV headliner Down Under.

    In terms of the animosity between the pair ever since Adesanya took issue with Du Plessis’ words, Cormier suggested that in spite of the “uncomfortable” nature of the bad blood, it’s still taken his interest in the matchup from zero to 100.

    “You don’t wanna say the wrong thing because it’s so easy to offend people on either side of the coin,” Cormier said. “When he (Du Plessis) said it, I thought he would kind of walk it back because of Usman and because of Ngannou and because of Izzy. He’s not walking it back. He’s standing on his idea that he’s the only true African champion. I don’t know that I’d agree…but for me, more importantly than all of that, I want to see the fight.

    “If you would have told me, Chael, before all of this…all of this stuff that makes it so hot, that makes it so uncomfortable, I can seriously say to you I wasn’t very interested in those two guys fighting,” Cormier continued. “Now though, Chael, I am so interested in these two fighting because there’s something there. I love great fighters fighting each other, but when there’s a little bit extra, that is what draws me in as a fan. … This one this weekend has two of the best middleweights in the world, but they also have that bad blood, and it makes it fun.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally have the chance to settle their grudge within the steel surroundings of the cage this weekend, 13 months on from their heated faceoff during International Fight Week.

  • Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t think the idea of an interim lightweight title should be entertained while Islam Makhachev recovers.

    Makhachev cemented his grip on the crown earlier this summer when he put a stop to the late-career title ambitions of fan favorite Dustin Poirier at the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark.

    But the Dagestani may need to wait until 2025 before adding the name of another top contender at 155 pounds to his reign’s list of victims. While he was originally expected to defend the belt in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan this October in Abu Dhabi, an injury has scuppered those plans.

    According to the challenger, either December or early 2025 are the two estimates for the champ’s return. And should the latter of those come to fruition, the Russian-Armenian is open to competing for an interim title in the meantime.

    That suggestion, however, has not gone down well with one former fighter-turned-color commentator…

    Cormier On Tsarukyan’s Interim Title Proposal: ‘Why Are We Creating Belts?!’

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier reacted to confirmation that injury will keep Makhachev out of UFC 308 this fall.

    After revealing a conversation in which Makhachev told him that recovery won’t take too long, Cormier rejected suggestions that an interim champ should be crowned in the Dagestani’s brief absence.

    Cormier pointed to Makhachev’s recent activity to push back on the interim title talk.

    “You get hurt, at times. Islam Makhachev has been active. He fought in October in Abu Dhabi against Alexander Volkanovski. He fought in (June) in Newark…fought Dustin Poirier,” Cormier said. “He’s fought twice very recently. If he was to fight in October, it would have been three fights in a calendar year.

    “There is no need for an interim championship. Chael, when in the world did we start to speak titles into existence?” Cormier continued. “Could you imagine, Chael, if when you were chasing down Anderson Silva and you go, ‘Well I’ll fight for an interim title if he ain’t ready in six months!’ … Who does Tsarukyan fight for the interim championship? It’s like, why are we creating belts, or trying (to)? … It just doesn’t need to be.”

    In terms of the “who” aspect of Cormier’s remarks, Tsarukyan name-dropped Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Michael Chandler as potential options for an interim title showdown in the coming months.

    It remains to be seen whether the UFC will fall on Tsarukyan or Cormier’s side. Should the promotion avoid an additional belt, the top lightweight contender would also appear content waiting a little longer for his first opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why Sean O’Malley ‘Might Feel Better’ About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov After His Latest Win

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why Sean O’Malley ‘Might Feel Better’ About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov After His Latest Win

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes Umar Nurmagomedov’s latest performance might have made Sean O’Malley breathe a little easier on the bantamweight throne.

    Nurmagomedov kept his unblemished professional and UFC records intact at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, where he got the better of Cory Sandhagen in his maiden main event on MMA’s biggest stage.

    The Dagestani utilized his relentless grappling pressure and strong striking to get the better of the ex-interim title challenger and high-ranked contender across five rounds of action inside the Etihad Arena.

    The result saw Nurmagomedov rewarded with a sizable climb up the bantamweight pecking order to #2, leaving him behind only upcoming title challenger Merab Dvalishvili in the rankings. With that in mind, the Russian has staked his claim for a shot at the winner of O’Malley’s next defense at the Sphere this fall.

    And while Nurmagomedov and some others have suggested the champ will be keen to avoid the undefeated 28-year-old, Cormier isn’t sure that’s the case following his latest display…

    Cormier: O’Malley Has Seen Someone ‘Counter’ Nurmagomedov’s Skills

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier reflected on Nurmagomedov’s sixth Octagon triumph and assessed what it could mean for O’Malley.

    “DC” stated that, while unsuccessful in his pursuit of a win, Sandhagen somewhat laid out a blueprint for dealing with Nurmagomedov’s ground game. That, Cormier says, could leave “Sugar” more confident in his chances against the Dagestani.

    “If I’m Sean O’Malley and I watched last weekend, Chael, I might feel a little better because now I finally saw someone actually counter these skills of Umar Nurmagomedov in terms of the ground fighting,” Cormier said. “Now, dealing with him on the feet is a whole another issue. But if you can fight on the feet, as Sean O’Malley can, you’d think you have a chance.”

    Before potentially adjusting his focus to Nurmagomedov, O’Malley must stall the title hopes of Dvalishvili at UFC 306/Noche UFC at the Sphere on September 14.

    And even beyond that, O’Malley has suggested the Russian isn’t set in stone as his next fight just yet. The champ has also pointed to the recently victorious Deiveson Figueiredo as a potential challenger, in addition to reiterating his featherweight ambitions.

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’ 

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t appear pleased with one upcoming change to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

    The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) held its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, late last month. During it, a rule vote resulted in the approval of two long-awaited changes.

    In addition to redefining what constitutes a grounded opponent, the ban on fighters throwing “12-6” elbows is set to be lifted later this year. The linear downward elbow was notably the cause of the sole defeat on the record of light heavyweight legend and current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

    Many in the community have long argued against claims that the direction of the elbows are more dangerous than a conventional, angled strike. With that, the confirmed rule change was positively received by a large portion of fans, fighters, and pundits.

    One ex-UFC athlete, however, is concerned about the ball of lifting the prohibition on certain moves now rolling…

    Cormier Worried About ‘Street Fight’ Moves Returning To MMA

    During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Ben Askren, Cormier gave his take on the long debate surrounding “12-6” elbows and the recent ABC ruling regarding the move.

    “DC” voiced his opposition to allowing the banned strike, insisting that the decision to reverse long-standing prohibitions will only pave the way for further “street fight” moves finding their way back into the sport and affecting its legitimacy.

    “I don’t like that. I don’t like 12-6 elbows and I don’t like soccer kicks,” Cormier said. “I don’t want — here’s my thought…I just do’t want everything that makes fighting look like a street fight. That’s it. … John McCain, before he passed, was against fighting because he said, ‘It’s human cockfighting.’ They would show these videos of gang fights and people on the ground and they would just kick them in the face. If we get to soccer kicks, it starts to look like that again, and that’s not good.

    “I don’t like the 12-6 elbows. The 12-6 elbow I don’t feel as strongly about. I don’t care as much about 12-6 elbows (as soccer kicks),” Cormier continued. “But I think the moment we start opening those rules again, it’s gonna be more, and more, and more, and eventually we’ll get back to soccer kicks.”

    Cormier’s view would appear to be in the minority, with many praising both the removal of that ban and the new definition of a grounded opponent following the ABC conference in July.

    Both adjustments will officially come into place on November 1, 2024.