Tag: Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier regrets losing to Stipe Miocic: ‘I’m better than him’

“That is going to be one of my greatest regrets.”

When Daniel Cormier looks back on his second fight with Stipe Miocic, his thoughts are crystal clear.

Cormier and Miocic have split results over two meetings in July 2018 and August 2019. Both have claimed a knockout win to force the UFC heavyweight title to change hands, setting the table for a final clash to be determined.

Cormier admitted that he recently watched his UFC 241 loss to Miocic for the first time in starting his preparation for the third meeting. It’s a fight Cormier was winning until Miocic made a strategic adjustment to attack the body, setting up his knockout win in the fourth round.

Even in the immediate aftermath of the fight, Cormier was well aware of where and how his flaws were exposed. Despite the mixed results, Cormier believes one thing to be true.

“I’m a better fighter than Stipe Miocic,” Cormier said on the “DC & Helwani” podcast on ESPN. “I respect him, I think he’s a great guy, I think he’s a great role model, but I’m better than him. I just want to go prove it. I should’ve never lost to him. That is going to be one of my greatest regrets.

“I lost to (Jon) Jones, but he was better. Stipe Miocic is not better than me, and that’s going to be something I regret for the rest of my life, is letting him get a victory over me. It should’ve never happened.”

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Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) is getting impatient waiting for Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) to make their trilogy fight official. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, all signs pointed to an August date, potentially in San Francisco. Everything has changed amid the crisis, though, and Cormier has said he’d be fine closing his career and rivalry with Miocic in an empty arena.

The issue is that he can’t get a commitment from the other side, as Miocic has kept a nonchalant attitude. Cormier, meanwhile, said he’s already preparing for the fight to happen. He understands Miocic is focused on his other job as a firefighter and working on the front lines to battle COVID-19, but his patience is wearing thin.

“Sign the contract,” Cormier said bluntly. “What are you doing?”

Cormier criticized Miocic for not pushing harder to get the fight done, especially considering the magnitude of the contest. An argument can be made the trilogy is shaping up to be among the best in UFC history, and Cormier said it’s time to take advantage.

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Daniel Cormier says there is no ‘Michael Jordan of MMA’: ‘I don’t think it’s just about one guy’

Former UFC champ-champ Daniel Cormier says picking MMA’s equivalent of Michael Jordan is an almost impossible task.

Who’s the GOAT? It’s the sort of discussion topic that has filled countless hours in bars across the world as sports fans debate the greatest athlete of all time in their favorite sport.

It’s no different in MMA, but former two-division UFC champion [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] says it’s less clear-cut than in some other sports.

Basketball may have Michael Jordan as its GOAT, but when asked who the “MJ” of MMA might be, “DC” admitted it was a tough call.

“Michael Jordan has long been the undisputed greatest of all time in basketball, (but) I don’t think we have that in mixed martial arts,” he suggested. “But I think when you start thinking about a guy who just personified ‘champion,’ a guy that just ran the table and did everything he was supposed to do, the right way, I guess I would say …

“I think we forget that Jordan lost in the playoffs, and he lost multiple times. Before the 90s, he lost in the playoffs about every year. So it’s not like he was undefeated, but if I had to pick a guy that just did everything the right way, I’d probably have to say Demetrious Johnson. (He) defended the belt all those times, always was so well prepared, his performances got better as he went on in his title reign. No hiccups, no mistakes, no nothing, and I think he’s one of those guys.”

But while Cormier held up “Mighty Mouse” as one of the sport’s all-time greats, he said putting one guy over and above the rest is a tricky task, with a number of fighters all holding legitimate credentials to be considered the best to ever do it. And when it comes to compiling a definitive shortlist of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history, “DC” says his name should be on it.

“I think when you start thinking about in MMA, I don’t think it’s just about one guy,” he admitted. “I think you’ve got to look at people as a whole, and there’s going to be about five or six guys that are going to sit at the top of this sport for a long time, and I think I’m one of those guys.”

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With Stipe Miocic in his sights, Daniel Cormier plots his own ‘Last Dance’ moment

Daniel Cormier admits he might’ve had his perfect ending in 2018 but is looking to recreate that moment one more time.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] admits he may have had the perfect opportunity to end his career on a high in 2018, but he’s looking to re-create that moment one more time in 2020.

Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) is projected to challenge UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic later this year and plans to leave no doubt in their trilogy after the duo swapped wins, and belts, in their first two matchups.

In their first outing then-UFC light heavyweight champ Cormier moved up in weight to challenge Miocic and knocked him out in the first round to become a simultaneous two-division UFC champion.

The pair faced off a second time last August at UFC 241. But this time it was Miocic who stopped “DC” to reclaim the title and even the score at one win apiece.

Cormier knows that UFC 226 could have been a perfect ending to his career, but putting a close to his trilogy with Miocic would certainly be a special way to leave the sport.

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“The perfect scenario is to honestly – I thought UFC 226 might have been it,” Cormier told MMA Junkie. “Becoming the heavyweight champ of the world, nothing was ever going to be better. But all I could do is hope to match that (and) become the champion again. I don’t think it’s going to exceed what I did the first time because I was holding the other belt at the time, but just to accomplish that again – to attain that goal of beating Miocic again and becoming the heavyweight champ of the world – I think that’s what it looks like.

“It looks like me winning the belt, staying in this sport and working outside of mixed martial arts and just continuing to build my brand and my visibility not only through our sport but things in pop culture and other sports, ESPN and everything else.”

Having kept himself busy outside the octagon through his commentary work for the UFC, high school wrestling coaching, and many other ventures with ESPN, Cormier has certainly found his niche.

And he hopes his “Last Dance” in the octagon with Miocic can give his career a fairytale ending.

 

Did Snoop Dogg and Daniel Cormier just create the unlikeliest UFC commentary team?

If we get another dose of Snoop Dogg on Dana White’s Contender Series, you apparently can count Daniel Cormier in.

Could we be getting another dose of Snoop Dogg in the commentary booth for the next season of Dana White’s Contender Series? The idea is on the table.

Although the legendary rapper was highly polarizing on the debut season for his work alongside Urijah Faber, there appears to be a desire to bring him back, stemming from former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag].

Cormier and Snoop Dogg recently engaged in a head-to-head matchup on ESPN’s celebrity “Madden 2020” tournament, and after the game (which Cormier lost), the pair discussed the idea of calling fights together.

“You still announcing, or you getting back in that ring?” Snoop Dogg said to Cormier following their match.

“I got one more fight against Miocic then I’m going to do my commentary,” Cormier responded. “I don’t really do Contender Series, though, but I’ll come do it with you if Dana brings you back.”

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Snoop Dogg’s commentary on the early Dana White’s Contender Series episodes gained much traction. There were several viral moments as he and Faber watched the bouts from an isolated room where the liquor and marijuana were flowing.

White has said the reason Snoop Dogg wasn’t brought back after the initial season was because he was “(expletive) expensive,” but maybe he’ll devise a plan with Cormier to get back in.

“Let’s do it, dog,” Snoop Dogg said. “I think that (expletive) would be off the hook.”

“I’ll tell Dana,” Cormier said.

“You reach out to him, and I’m going to reach out to him,” Snoop Dogg said. “We’ll double down so he has to do it.”

See how it all unfolded in real time below (via Instagram):

This latest development apparently means Snoop Dogg and Cormier are on good terms. Snoop Dogg hasn’t been particularly kind to “DC” in the past. In August 2017, Snoop Dogg mocked Cormier for his knockout loss to Jon Jones at UFC 214 (that was subsequently overturned to a no contest), calling him a “little (expletive)” for crying after the defeat.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Daniel Cormier uses coronavirus pandemic downtime to raise funds for youth wrestling

Good guy Daniel Cormier trying to do some good for the next generation of amateur wrestlers.

Former UFC dual champion [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] is using his downtime during the coronavirus pandemic to do some good for the next generation of amateur wrestlers.

Cormier (22-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), a former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, already does more than his fair share for the wrestling community. He is the head coach at Gilroy High School in California, but that still doesn’t satisfy him in terms of giving back to the sport that played a massive role in his overall athletic success.

In collaboration with the customized celebrity video messaging service Taki, Cormier is donating money to Wrestling Prep, an organization that not only teaches the physical and mental craft of wrestling, but also provides recruiting and SAT preparation for those making the jump from high school to college.

“These online seminars that they are having are now starting to really explode,” Cormier told MMA Junkie Radio. “Last night the seminar had 745 kids – 745 kids online – learning not only technical skills, but also mastering things in the classroom. It’s a massive opportunity for these kids, and it’s great to be part of something positive.

“I’m just really happy that I can provide assistance for kids that aren’t on my team. It’s across the country, and (we) try to guide them in the right direction for all that stuff that’s going to come on really quick.”

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Through the Taki app, Cormier is selling 10 different personalized messages per month at $100 each. Cormier said he’s received requests that range from birthday messages to motivational advice and more. All profits go to Wrestling Prep, and Cormier said slots have been filling up quickly.

“I do these 10 videos up every month, and people have been burning through them,” Cormier said. “It’s great not only in the sense that they’re willing to buy videos in this time where everything is so up in the air, but the fact that people still want to help people. By buying this video, it allows a kid to gain knowledge by Wrestling Prep.”

Cormier reiterated that he takes no personal profit out of the partnership, and he’s grateful to anyone who is willing to participate in a time of uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I know it’s hard to part with $100 right now, but know that $100 is going to help someone,” Cormier said. “It’s not money in my pocket. I’m not getting $100. It will go to a kid that’s trying to further his education and just learn.”

10 of the greatest UFC championship fight comebacks

From strawweight all the way to heavyweight, these are 10 of the greatest comebacks in UFC championship fight history.

There have been some remarkable performances in UFC championship bouts, but some fighters had to dig deep to get the job done.

Some of the greatest comebacks have come in title fights, whether from a defending champion or a title challenger who showed the heart of a champion to weather the storm and turn things around for the finish.

From strawweight up to heavyweight, here are 10 of the greatest comebacks in UFC championship fight history.

Without further ado …

****

Frank Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz – UFC 22
Sept. 24, 1999

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After defending his title three times, UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Frank Shamrock[/autotag] drew a young [autotag]Tito Ortiz[/autotag] at UFC 22. It proved to be one of the toughest battles of his career, as Ortiz really took it to Shamrock from the opening bell.

Ortiz dropped him with a straight right just seconds in, and the next 15 minutes would be a nightmare for Shamrock. Ortiz landed numerous takedowns, putting heavy pressure in top position, while landing brutal ground-and-pound.

In Round 4, Ortiz started to slow down. Shamrock pushed forward with hard leg kicks, but Ortiz capitalized on Shamrock’s forward pressure, landing another takedown. With less than a minute remaining in the round, Shamrock reversed position, unloading a barrage of punches on Ortiz who ducked under for a desperation takedown.

Shamrock used a mounted guillotine to get back up, dropping big hammer fists on Ortiz, who was holding onto his leg. A couple more shots and an exhausted Ortiz was unresponsive, prompting the referee to call the fight. Shamrock never gave up, throwing everything he had in the small windows he got throughout the fight, showing incredible heart.

Up next: Hughes delivers a moment for the ages

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Video: Relive the most iconic UFC octagon interview callouts

Watch the most iconic UFC octagon interview callouts, including when Nate Diaz took aim at Conor McGregor.

Ask and you shall receive.

Some of the greatest UFC matchups have been set up in post-fight octagon interviews, where fighters took control of their fates by calling their shots.

Just like [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] did, when he defeated Michael Johnson in 2015 and proceeded to take aim at Conor McGregor in one of the most iconic callouts in UFC history.

Diaz eventually got his wish when he stepped in on short notice to face McGregor at UFC 196, shocking the world with a second-round submission win to hand McGregor his first promotional loss.

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From the Diaz brothers to Chael Sonnen, check out the latest video compilation published by the UFC showing the most iconic octagon interview callouts in promotional history.

  • Nate Diaz calls out Conor McGregor – UFC Orlando (Dec. 19, 2015)
  • [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] calls out Anderson Silva – UFC 136 (Oct. 8, 2011)
  • [autotag]Daniel Cormier [/autotag]calls out Brock Lesnar – UFC 226 (July 7, 2018)
  • [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] calls out Georges St-Pierre – UFC 137 (Oct. 29, 2011)
  • [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] calls out Conor McGregor – UFC 205 (Nov. 12, 2016)
  • Daniel Cormier calls out Jon Jones – UFC 173 (May 24, 2014)
  • [autotag]Georges St-Pierre[/autotag] calls out Matt Hughes – UFC 63 (Sept. 23, 2006)
  • [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] calls out Conor McGregor – UFC 216 (Oct. 7, 2017)
  • [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] calls out Michael Bisping – UFC 205 (Nov. 12, 2016)
  • Nate Diaz calls out Jorge Masvidal – UFC 241 (Aug. 17, 2019)

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WATCH: Highlights of Drew Lock in ESPN’s Madden tournament

Here are highlights from Drew Lock’s showdown with Daniel Cormier in the first round of ESPN’s ‘Madden’ tournament.

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock and running back Melvin Gordon are participating in ESPN’s Celebrity Madden Tournament this week.

In the first round of the tournament, Lock played with the Green Bay Packers and faced off against UFC fighter Daniel Cormier, who played with the New Orleans Saints.

Lock probably picked the Packers because he “models his game after Aaron Rodgers,” according to ESPN’s Arda Ocal. Lock also has a poor rating (67 overall) in Madden 20 so he probably didn’t want to use the Broncos.

Check out the highlights from Lock’s showdown with Cormier in the video below. Warning: The final score and more spoilers are listed below the video.

After initially taking an early 6-0 lead, Lock went down 7-6 in the second quarter and failed to ever regain the lead. Lock threw two interceptions and eventually lost 20-13.

“Oh, I’m bad, I know I’m bad,” Lock said after the loss.

Gordon did win his first match of the tournament.

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