Latest news with #Cormier
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier wouldn't be surprised if Derrick Lewis got UFC title shot vs. Tom Aspinall
Daniel Cormier is throwing Derrick Lewis' name in the UFC heavyweight title mix. Cormier doesn't see too many options for UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall's next title defense after Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has already beaten top contenders such as Alexander Volkov, Curtis Blaydes, and Sergei Pavlovich. All signs are pointing to Ciryl Gane as Aspinall's next opponent, but after Lewis (29-12 MMA, 20-10 UFC) knocked out Tallison Teixeira in the UFC on ESPN 70 headliner this past Saturday, Cormier doesn't rule out the possibility of "The Black Beast" jumping the line. "Probably could (get a title shot), man, with the way the heavyweight division is right now," Cormier told MMA Junkie of Lewis. "He might get an opportunity. If all things were considered and you just need somebody to put on a show, a person that you know is going to bring the eyes, it's Derrick Lewis. "He really is going to bring more eyes than most in the division right now. Tom Aspinall needs challengers. Chael Sonnen told me that on our show, 'If Ciryl Gane so much as coughs, Derrick Lewis is going to get a title fight.'" Many, including UFC CEO Dana White, thought Lewis' TKO win over Teixeira was an early stoppage. While Cormier doesn't disagree, he gives referee Jason Herzog the benefit of the doubt. "I think (the stoppage) was bad, but when a guy grabs the fence to pull himself up you've got to do something," Cormier said. "You can't reset the position because he's getting finished. I think he made the right decision. We're pretty hard on these officials a lot of times, but I think under those circumstances, he was left with no option."
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daniel Cormier confident that Ilia Topuria knockout loss did not deter Max Holloway
Daniel Cormier still sees a path to UFC lightweight gold for Max Holloway. Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) was knocked out by Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in their featherweight title fight at UFC 308, marking the first time Holloway was stopped by strikes. Now Holloway will look to rebound when he defends his BMF title against retiring Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in a trilogy bout, which headlines Saturday's UFC 318 event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. "Max is as good as they come, and he's motivated to hold on to that BMF championship," Cormier told MMA Junkie. "You've got to make sure you're locked in if you want to get a victory in those situations. Always. It's even more than Max knows Dustin is done. Dustin is going to walk away from fighting, and Max still has to be here. He wants to get a victory over Dustin as Dustin retires because he's got to deal with everything that MMA entails." Prior to the Topuria loss, Holloway scored an iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje in his return to lightweight at UFC 300. This time, Holloway looked like a much more natural 155-pounder than he did when he lost to Poirier on short notice for the interim title at UFC 236. Holloway is eyeing a rematch with newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Topuria, and Cormier sees that as enough of a motivator for "Blessed" to get back on track. "If he's anything like the last time we saw him at 155, he's one of the best in the world," Cormier said of Holloway. "The first time he fought he was like, 'I have a spare tire, I was gaining weight just to fight.' When we saw him against Justin he had not looked like that same guy. He had looked like a 155 pounder. "Now his diet matches everything he needs in order to become a world champ. Because that's exactly what his eyes are set on. He's not thinking, 'Just go win this fight.' You hear the stuff he's saying about Ilia. That loss did not deter him. He still wants to get back in there with Topuria and try to make that right." Holloway took aim at Topuria's recent run, which saw him knock out Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway, and most recently Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Cormier explains why he slightly agrees with Holloway downplaying the win streak. "With the history, I think he's closer to getting that fight," Cormier said. "All those things he said (about Topuria's winning streak) were true. Everything he stated was fact. Problem is, Ilia still did that. You've got to give him credit for what he did. "That was amazing to watch him do what he did over the course of those three fights and we have to really tip our cap to the champion. Max Holloway wants that fight again, and we'll have to see how long it is before he gets that opportunity." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Daniel Cormier: Ilia Topuria knockout loss did not deter Max Holloway
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier confident that Ilia Topuria knockout loss did not deter Max Holloway
Daniel Cormier still sees a path to UFC lightweight gold for Max Holloway. Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) was knocked out by Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in their featherweight title fight at UFC 308, marking the first time Holloway was stopped by strikes. Now Holloway will look to rebound when he defends his BMF title against retiring Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in a trilogy bout, which headlines Saturday's UFC 318 event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. "Max is as good as they come, and he's motivated to hold on to that BMF championship," Cormier told MMA Junkie. "You've got to make sure you're locked in if you want to get a victory in those situations. Always. It's even more than Max knows Dustin is done. Dustin is going to walk away from fighting, and Max still has to be here. He wants to get a victory over Dustin as Dustin retires because he's got to deal with everything that MMA entails." Prior to the Topuria loss, Holloway scored an iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje in his return to lightweight at UFC 300. This time, Holloway looked like a much more natural 155-pounder than he did when he lost to Poirier on short notice for the interim title at UFC 236. Holloway is eyeing a rematch with newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Topuria, and Cormier sees that as enough of a motivator for "Blessed" to get back on track. "If he's anything like the last time we saw him at 155, he's one of the best in the world," Cormier said of Holloway. "The first time he fought he was like, 'I have a spare tire, I was gaining weight just to fight.' When we saw him against Justin he had not looked like that same guy. He had looked like a 155 pounder. "Now his diet matches everything he needs in order to become a world champ. Because that's exactly what his eyes are set on. He's not thinking, 'Just go win this fight.' You hear the stuff he's saying about Ilia. That loss did not deter him. He still wants to get back in there with Topuria and try to make that right." Holloway took aim at Topuria's recent run, which saw him knock out Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway, and most recently Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Cormier explains why he slightly agrees with Holloway downplaying the win streak. "With the history, I think he's closer to getting that fight," Cormier said. "All those things he said (about Topuria's winning streak) were true. Everything he stated was fact. Problem is, Ilia still did that. You've got to give him credit for what he did. "That was amazing to watch him do what he did over the course of those three fights and we have to really tip our cap to the champion. Max Holloway wants that fight again, and we'll have to see how long it is before he gets that opportunity."
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier shares ideas for who should wrap BMF belt around UFC 318 winner's waist
Daniel Cormier has two people in mind to put the BMF belt around the UFC 318 winner. Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) defends his BMF title in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) on Saturday (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. For the inaugural BMF title fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244, it was "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson who wrapped the belt around the victorious Masvidal's waist. For the second BMF title fight between Justin Gaethje and Poirier at UFC 291, it was Masvidal. For the third and most recent one, Mark Coleman wrapped the belt around Holloway's waist after he knocked out Gaethje at UFC 300. This time, Cormier has a specific name for both Poirier and Holloway should they emerge victorious. "If Lil Wayne is walking him out, Lil Wayne should walk out there and put the belt on Dustin Poirier," Cormier said on "Good Guy/Bad Guy" with Chael Sonnen. "I think Lil Wayne should do it." As for Holloway, Cormier went with a more sentimental choice. "It's kind of like personal because I watched the disappointment of the last fight. I'd let his wife do it because they're so close, and she means so much," Cormier continued. "I would let Max's wife do it because I saw how sad they were after the last fight. It's not just Max fighting. It's his entire team, his entire family. I would let his wife do it because of how much it means to the family, or I'd let his son do it. I'd let his wife or his son do it."
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier explains why Dustin Poirier's retirement fight will be 'hardest' to call
Daniel Cormier admits it won't be easy commentating Dustin Poirier's final appearance in the octagon at UFC 318. Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) challenges Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) for the BMF title in Saturday's main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The pair will fight for a third time in Poirier's home state after "The Diamond" beat Holloway twice before. Like Poirier, Cormier is born in Lafayette, La. He opened up on his special bond with Poirier, which dates back to 2011. "It's one that I hate that we're having to do, because Dustin's been so important to martial arts, but everybody has their time," Cormier told MMA Junkie. "I'm lucky enough to be there when it happens and be right next to the octagon or in the octagon when it happens. I've had to do some pretty emotional ones before in my career, but I think this one will probably be the hardest because I met Dustin way back after I beat Jeff Monson. "I ran into him at a gym in Lafayette, and to see what he's become, it's outstanding. Everybody has their time. I'm just happy Dustin understands when his number has been called and when it's time to walk away, that he can be comfortable with the decision he's making. He's got the red carpet rolled out for him fighting at home, it doesn't get better than that." Poirier insists that even if he beats Holloway and claims the BMF title, he has no intentions of fighting again – and Cormier believes him. "I think he's done," Cormier said. "It sounds like a man who has come to peace with what's happening. A man who knows his time has come. His number has been called. We all get a certain amount of time in fighting. Generally the game does away with the athlete. Seems like Dustin Poirier knows that his time is here, and he wants to make sure he's done before the game is done with him. "I like that. I like hearing that from DP. I like hearing how sure he is that the career is probably over. I like it. I like seeing a guy that recognizes it's time. I know because I'm a guy that walked into his last fight knowing it was over. It's done. I'm not doing this no more. There's a peace in knowing when your time comes." To hear more from Cormier, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.
