Tag: Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier recalls when Khabib Nurmagomedov took issue with him being ‘chummy’ with Conor McGregor

Daniel Cormier values Khabib Nurmagomedov’s loyalty.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] values [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s loyalty.

Former UFC champions Cormier and Nurmagomedov spent years training together at American Kickboxing Academy. Throughout their careers, both partook in two of the biggest rivalries in UFC history.

Cormier and Jon Jones’ bad blood was well documented, and “DC” still doesn’t see a world where they can completely bury the hatchet. Jones heaped praise on Nurmagomedov, and included him in his top five greatest fighters list.

Nurmagomedov respects Jones’ achievements, but said he can’t be friends with him because of his conflict with Cormier (h/t Bloody Elbow). Upon hearing that, Cormier understood just why Nurmagomedov wasn’t happy with him once having a friendly encounter with his arch rival [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag].

“We as Americans, we as a culture, we don’t abide by those same rules all the time,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “If you are in such a great conflict with someone, as my friend, we as Americans may not see the need to kind of fall in line and feel or operate in the same way. Conor McGregor, who I met back in the day – he was at a couple of fights, and we’ve always been cordial with each other. I don’t really know Conor very well. Khabib and Conor were cordial in the beginning, also, but it became so nasty now that there was that massive build to the fight, the way the fight ended, everything.

“I saw Conor McGregor in Abu Dhabi. I don’t know who he was fighting – maybe it was Dustin Poirier. We were shaking hands, and we were talking a little bit, and were very kind of chummy. And Khabib was like, ‘Brother, I don’t understand this.’ He said, ‘If I see Conor with his wife, I’ll shake his hand because that’s what you’re supposed to do, but brother …’ And I initially kind of fought it, but people close to me said, “He’s right. Look at the stance he’s taken in regards to everyone you deal with. Why in the world would you not take that same stance?'”

Since then, Cormier says he’s taken Nurmagomedov’s words into regard and has changed his attitude toward McGregor.

“I don’t try to request McGregor for interviews,” Cormier continued. “I don’t think that I would get him, but I’m just saying it’s not a request I make every time I’m there. But it’s like par for the course for these dudes because honestly, Khabib’s not just a teammate, he’s family, and they’re like that with everyone.

“And they feel like if someone’s in conflict, especially at the level that Jones and I were in conflict, they’re very stern in the side they pick, and it’s kind of refreshing because most people aren’t like that, guys. They’re just not – especially us as Americans. So watching that wasn’t crazy for me. Dude, he really is the man. Khabib is the man. He’s got to be one of the most genuine humans I’ve ever met, and I don’t know if there’s anything I wouldn’t do for this dude.”

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Daniel Cormier explains why Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou could happen

Daniel Cormier doesn’t rule out the possibility of Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou happening.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] doesn’t rule out the possibility of [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] happening.

If you ask UFC CEO Dana White, he’ll tell you there’s zero chance of that becoming a reality. White recently went off Ngannou, and their relationship appears to be as soured as ever.

Heavyweight champion Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) makes his first title defense against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 headliner Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden. Both him and his coaches have hinted at retirement after the fight.

But Jones’ coach Greg Jackson said a big paycheck could make Jones stick around. A matchup with PFL heavyweight superfights champ Ngannou (17-3) could definitely deliver that, and if there’s one man that could make it happen, Cormier says it’s Turki Alalshikh.

“If Turki and Francis and Jon can make these dollars make sense, why wouldn’t they do it?” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I’m not sitting up here saying it’s going to happen because Dana does not like Francis. That is a massive problem – massive problem.

“But hell, when in the world do you put that above business? I don’t know that he will. He’s one of the smartest, sharpest businessman you’ve ever met. If the dollars make sense, the fight could potentially happen.”

Ngannou and his team seem to think a fight with Jones could happen. Despite the UFC being heavily against cross promotion, Cormier says sharing the same broadcast partner definitely makes things easier.

“If Francis is to be believed, and Francis has had these conversations, we’re now entering a world where multiple partnerships already are established in this realm,” Cormier continued. “ESPN UFC, ESPN PFL, Riyadh Season UFC – ladies and gentleman, maybe, just maybe, we get that fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Daniel Cormier explains being against Max Holloway facing Dustin Poirier in lightweight return

Daniel Cormier would like Max Holloway to ease back into lightweight rather than face “as crazy of a challenge” as Dustin Poirier.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] wants [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] to ease his way back into lightweight.

Holloway failed to regain the featherweight title when he was knocked out for the first time in his career by champion Ilia Topuria last month at UFC 308. He recently announced that he’ll be moving to lightweight, and both he and Dustin Poirier expressed interest in a trilogy bout next.

Prior to the Topuria loss, Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) scored an iconic last-second knockout of former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. However, Cormier wishes “Blessed” didn’t jump right back into the deep end at 155 pounds.

“He’s asking for Dustin Poirier. That would be absolutely fantastic, but is there a better way to introduce Max Holloway into the lightweight division?” Cormier said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Chael Sonnen. “Do we put him in there with a Dustin for a third time? Or do we see what happens with Michael Chandler after he fights against Charles Oliveira? Or do we start to kind of look down the rankings a little bit and say, ‘Well, it would be fun to watch him fight a Rafael Fiziev. It would be fun to watch him fight a Benoit Saint Denis. It would be fun to watch him fight a Paddy Pimblett.’

“I know that might not be fun for Max, that might not be great for Max, but it would also give him an opportunity to work his way back into contention without being in there with these absolute killers. Personally, I would like to see Max Holloway not stand across from Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje. Alexander Volkanovski then Ilia Topuria, something not as crazy of a challenge.”

Holloway’s first stint at lightweight in the UFC ended in a lopsided decision loss to Poirier for the interim title in April 2019. But after finishing Gaethje to claim the BMF title in April, Holloway finds himself at No. 5 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

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Daniel Cormier: It wouldn’t ‘be a great choice’ for Magomed Ankalaev to just stand with Alex Pereira

Daniel Cormier implores Magomed Ankalaev to mix things up against Alex Pereira.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] implores [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] to mix things up against [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) appears to have finally cemented himself as No. 1 light heavyweight contender when he extended his unbeaten streak to 13 with a win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308.

If a title fight against Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is next, Ankalaev vows to knock “Poatan” out on the feet. But with Pereira’s past four opponents falling victim to his striking prowess, Cormier thinks it would be a mistake on Ankalaev’s part not to utilize his grappling.

“I thought he fought well,” Cormier said of Ankalaev during a Q&A session prior to the UFC Fight Night 246 ceremonial weigh-ins. “I mean, he’s a tough guy. He didn’t wrestle at all. I don’t know if that’s kind of just showing us that he’s willing to stand with Pereira.

“I don’t know if that would be a great choice if he was fighting him, but he’s as good as they come. I thought that he fought well. I felt that his opponent fought well – Rakic. I thought it was a good fight. You know, it’s hard. When you get the elite of the elite, at times, it looks like that, and I thought we saw a pretty good fight.”

However, Ankalaev continues to insist on standing with former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion Pereira if they fight.

“I was offered three dates December, February, and March and I agreed to all three dates I have to win by KO I have no problem. It is condition.”

Daniel Cormier doubts happy ending in bad blood rivalry with Jon Jones – and he’s OK with that

Daniel Cormier was brutally honest about his relationship with Jon Jones.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] was brutally honest about his relationship with [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag].

Cormier and Jones engaged in one of the biggest rivalries in UFC history, with Jones getting the better of “DC” twice in title fights – but the second win at UFC 214 getting overturned to a no contest due to a failed drug test.

Although they’re currently cordial, the pair never really buried the hatchet – at least not from Cormier’s side. However, that didn’t prevent Cormier from giving UFC heavyweight champion Jones his flowers.

“One of the greatest moments – he’s beaten a lot of guys. The amount of champions that Jon Jones has beaten over the course of his career is very impressive,” Cormier said during a Q&A session prior to the UFC Fight Night 246 ceremonial weigh-ins.

“The guy has been a champion for a long time, he’s done a great job and it will suck whenever he’s gone because the game is better when you have fighters like that in it. Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of time when he hasn’t been in it because of the things he has done.”

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 309 main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Cormier revealed that Jones went up to him to shake his hand during UFC 306 this past September at Sphere in Las Vegas, which he deemed as unnecessary.

“We aren’t great, and I don’t think that we ever have to,” Cormier said. “I think people need to stop, like, longing for the perfect happy ending. Guys don’t have to do what Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield did. It can be OK to just be OK with us being as we are. And I’m fine with it, so you guys should be too.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Daniel Cormier responds to Rinat Fakhretdinov’s commentary criticism after UFC 308 win: ‘He’s a moron’

Rinat Fakhretdinov didn’t appreciate the commentary from Daniel Cormier at UFC 308, prompting the Hall of Famer to issue a response.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] didn’t mince words when asked about [autotag]Rinat Fakhredinov[/autotag]’s recent comments toward the commentary team at UFC 308.

Fakhredinov (23-1-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) won a controversial unanimous decision over Carlos Leal in their welterweight bout at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. Cormier, who was on the commentary duty for the event, firmly disagreed with the decision.

“Really bad commentators,” Fakhredinov said during a post-fight news conference at UFC 308. “… First round was pretty close. It could’ve gone either way. I didn’t have any doubt the second or third round was mine. After your words, people will say again the Arabs bought the decision.”

During a Q&A session prior to the UFC Fight Night 246 ceremonial weigh-ins, Cormier was asked about Fakhredinov’s comments, and didn’t hold back his opinion.

“I don’t know what this dude was talking about,” Cormier said. “I’m serious. Listen bro, he lost. I don’t care how many times he complains – and that’s the thing. These fighters, they go and they fight. It was so clear that the guy lost the fight. He gets a microphone and he goes and sticks his foot in his mouth. That’s the problem. He’s a moron, and he just needs to recognize he lost.”

Every media member who submitted a scorecard to MMA Decisions scored the fight in favor of Leal (21-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC). In fact, most of them scored every round for Leal, who walked away with a loss in his promotional debut.

While the official result prevented Fakhretdinov from recording his first loss in the UFC, Cormier believes that he was “gifted” a win by the cageside judges, and should just quietly accept the result.

“Take it. Just take it,” Cormier said. “You got gifted a win. Take it. Just take it and keep your head tucked down until you fight somebody next time.”

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Derrick Lewis wants to fight ‘piece of sh*t’ Daniel Cormier? Confused UFC Hall of Famer responds

It’s tough to tell whether or not Derrick Lewis was being serious, but he’s apparently unhappy with Daniel Cormier?

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – It’s tough to tell whether or not [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] was being serious, but he’s apparently unhappy with [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag].

Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) takes on Jhonata Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 (ESPN+) main card at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Lewis, who failed in his bid for undisputed UFC heavyweight gold when he was submitted by Cormier in 2018, was asked whom he’d like to fight before he wraps up his career. “The Black Beast’s” response was a rather surprising one, picking the currently retired Cormier.

“Probably DC because that one is still not sitting right with me,” Lewis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 246 media day. “I don’t know, man. Do people really like DC like that? Come on, man, that guy, I told DC in his face, that guy is a piece of sh*t. He’s a piece of sh*t scumbag, F*ck DC. He knows why, and everyone knows why, too: He disrespected Popeyes chicken. But other than that, he’s a piece of sh*t.”

Lewis is known for his sense of humor, and throwing in Popeyes might have given it away, but something tells Cormier that there might be an element of truth behind Lewis’ words. Cormier has been rather critical of Lewis in the past, claiming that his time at the top is done.

“I haven’t seen him for a while, but I was pretty hard on him about retiring because he had lost a couple of fights,” Cormier told Ariel Helwani. “And I was telling the truth, and he seemed mad at me, but I haven’t seen him. I’m going to see him this weekend, and I’m going to kind of ask him, like, ‘Yo, are you mad at me?’ There’s a little underlying maybe – it sounds like it might be a little underlying.

“He might be a little p*ssed at me maybe because of the way I talked about him. I don’t know what fight it was where he didn’t look great, but then he knocked the last guy out and I was like, ‘Well, I’m glad he’s back.’ So, I don’t know. My opinions go with their performances, and I think maybe that’s what it is, but in terms of anything else, Derrick and I don’t have many things we do together outside of just the Popeyes thing and then the fight. We can’t be mad at each other. We already fought. It’s settled.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Daniel Cormier makes case for Ilia Topuria as Fighter of the Year over Alex Pereira

Daniel Cormier argues that Ilia Topuria’s 2024 was more impressive than Alex Pereira’s. Is he wrong?

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] argues that Ilia Topuria’s 2024 was more impressive than [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to claim the featherweight title at UFC 298 in February. He then retained his belt at Saturday’s UFC 308 main event by becoming the first to knock out Max Holloway. Light heavyweight champion Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) fought three times in the span of six months – scoring knockouts of Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and most recently Khalil Rountree at UFC 307.

Based on the level of competition, Cormier gives the nod to Topuria for Fighter of the Year over Pereira.

“The Fighter of the Year conversation felt like it was over,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Like, Alex Pereira was the guy that was the Fighter of the Year, no questions asked. That’s not the case. I think that these two wins singularly are as good as any two wins anybody can have, no disrespect to Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree. (Topuria) just beat the two best fighters of the generation prior, but they’re still in this generation, because they’re both very, very young. He just beat two of the greatest featherweights of all time.

“There’s only three, and he beat two of them in a calendar year. Ilia Topuria is the Fighter of the Year. He is the Fighter of the Year, and in my opinion, there is no questions to be asked. That result makes it true. Paul Felder told me it would be like Alex fighting Jon (Jones) and I in our prime and knocking us both out in the same calendar year, and if I’m being completely honest, I don’t know that he could have done that. Ilia just did it. Beat those guys in their prime. It was very, very impressive.”

When asked for his pick during the UFC 308 post-fight news conference, UFC CEO Dana White was on the fence.

“I don’t know, that’s a tough one,” White said. “I’d have to look at more numbers and stats, but you know, you can’t take it away from either one of them, what they’ve done this year. I mean, Alex, when you look at Alex, he’s on vacation in Australia.

“We call him, and packs up, and heads home, and comes into the fight. I mean, he’s built different that guy. It’s like he doesn’t even care about a full camp. He doesn’t care if he’s hurt. He didn’t care about anything. He’ll get in there and fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Daniel Cormier: Khamzat Chimaev earned title shot at UFC 308, Sean Strickland should be worried

After UFC 308, Daniel Cormier believes Khamzat Chimaev likely leapfrogged Sean Strickland as No. 1 middleweight contender.

After UFC 308, [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] believes [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] likely has leapfrogged [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] as No. 1 middleweight contender.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) ran through former champion Robert Whittaker (27-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) for a first-round submission in Saturday’s co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was expected to be next in line for a title-fight rematch with champion Dricus Du Plessis, but Cormier isn’t so sure after Chimaev made quick work of Whittaker.

“Khamzat Chimaev earned himself a title shot, or at least he should have,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “He submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round – first round! Went across the octagon, double-legged him, took him down, choked him, and broke his jaw – broke his jaw! With a squeeze from a rear-naked choke. It was nuts to see him do that to a guy that was the generation before him, was one of the guys. Robert Whittaker for a long time has been one of the guys. When he wasn’t the champion, he was ranked No. 1, or No. 2. Chimaev is ranked No. 12 right now.

“He went and beat him in the first round. And if you’re Sean Strickland, that result worries you. Why? Because Mick Maynard is sitting next to me and jumps up and runs to Dana, and they start talking with Hunter (Campbell). Dana immediately runs over to follow Chimaev to talk to him. That’s scary to a guy that’s considered the No. 1 contender because that tells you things are happening. Khamzat Chimaev, to me, solidified himself as the No. 1 contender at 185 pounds. His wrestling, his top control, his mentality, his approach, it’s not like many things we have seen.”

Since losing his middleweight title in a split decision loss to Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, Strickland rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. He previously stated that he refuses to take another fight unless it’s for the title and is still confident that he’s next for Du Plessis.

“Understand one thing…. I am next in line….. Its been said, its been written… January/February me and @dricusduplessis are scrapping Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months….. wait.. sorry UAE… you’re not allowed in Chechnya…But hey crypto scams while you wait.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBpQPTZRJ3q/?igsh=MXNnMWtkcHd5a2pweQ%3D%3D&img_index=1

“Khamzat Chimaev should be fighting for the belt next,” Cormier added. “He really should. I don’t know what the UFC is going to do, but if they say, ‘Hey, you’re next,’ I don’t know that Sean has much in terms of reasons how he can complain to the organization about how they’re wrong.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Graphic photo shows Robert Whittaker’s mangled jaw from Khazmat Chimaev at UFC 308

Yikes. Check out this gnarly UFC 308 photo of Robert Whittaker’s injuries from Khamzat Chimaev’s squeeze.

No wonder [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] quickly tapped at UFC 308.

Whittaker (27-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) sustained serious damage to his jaw and teeth, according to a photograph shared by [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] at the tail-end of the pay-per-view broadcast Saturday.

While the exact injury is unclear, the photo shows Whittaker’s front bottom teeth dislodged awkwardly back toward his throat inside his mouth, filled with blood.

The damage sustained came during his first-round submission loss to  [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at Eithad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Chimaev immediately dragged Whittaker to the ground and relentlessly smothered him, until he got a grip and squeezed. A face crank resulted in a quick tap from Whittaker, at 3:34 of Round 1.

Check out an image of the damage done (via Daniel Cormier/ESPN MMA broadcast) below:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.