Issue 157

August 2017

Without a doubt, Daniel Cormier is one of the best fighters in the world. The former USA Olympic team captain has fought and defeated a torrent of world-class fighters across two divisions – providing tangible proof that his talents are capable of making him stand out regardless of weight class.

‘DC’s accomplishments have seen him receive critical acclaim that’s reflected with his place behind only Demetrious Johnson and Conor McGregor at the top of the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings. However, it feels like his talents aren’t celebrated with the same enthusiasm as the other fighters on that list and that’s down to one reason: Jon Jones.

The UFC’s enfant terrible was the author of the only blemish on the UFC light heavyweight champion’s 19-1 ledger and is still seen by some as the ‘real’ ruler of 205lb, but with a rematch on the horizon, MMA’s foremost grinder says he has the chance to take his undisputed place at the sport’s summit by getting his revenge.

Who is the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world?

I think it’s Demetrious Johnson. I fought at UFC 210 and Demetrious fought the very next week and the difference in the way it looked was so revealing. This guy can do everything. He’s perfect in there, period. I love watching him. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Wilson Reis looked like a rank amateur against him. He was outclassed. He knew he wasn’t going to win. Not only does he lose, he went out there and got beat in the one area everybody thought he had an advantage. That shows you what DJ did to him mentally inside the Octagon.

Does Conor McGregor deserve to be ahead of you in the pound-for-pound rankings?

I love Conor. He’s a great guy. I get these questions and the true answer will make it seem like I have something against Conor. But I have nothing against him. At number two, I get it. He’s a two-division champion. It feels like he should be ranked that high, if not number one. I just have a tough time putting him above me at this point. Just this last year he fought Nate and lost one of those two fights. When I was fighting heavyweight and was 235, I was still fighting guys who were 265 and 280. If we’re talking pound-for-pound, I think we’re interchangeable at three and two. Nobody is beating DJ but three and two are changeable. Conor’s stock goes up because he won titles in two divisions but losing to Nate has to have consequences.

Are you being overlooked despite your achievements in two weight classes?

I think it’s easy to do. But there are some people who really respect everything I’ve done. It feels like everything kind of starts and ends with this rivalry (with Jon Jones), though. It’s easy to forget about stuff like me fighting ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. The guy was ranked four in the world and had just beaten Fedor. When I fought Josh Barnett. he was ranked top five in the world at the time. Even when I fought Roy Nelson, he was six, and Frank Mir was five. I’ve beaten all these high-ranked heavyweights, but I feel because of how closely Jon and I are tied together everything gets lost with that rivalry.

And perhaps that you started late in MMA is a factor people forget?

I was 30 years old when I started MMA. I had my first fight in September and turned 31 in March. I started really late.

What about Stipe Miocic? Where is he for you? Is number five right?

I love the way Stipe goes to the Octagon like he doesn’t have a worry in the world. He walks there chewing his gum like, I’m about to smash this dude. He’s a breath of fresh air to a division that needed some stability.

Does p4p really matter when all’s said and done?

It doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. It sparks conversation and we want conversation. Any time people are talking it’s good for us as far as the sport. Pound- for- pound means you’re respected as one of the very best in the world, regardless of your division, but ultimately it doesn’t really matter all that much.

You advised MMA fighters not to go in against boxers recently. Why?

That singular skill, man. They’re too well rounded in it. The issue is this: these guys aren’t necessarily calling out guys who are super accomplished. David Haye is a tough guy, Anthony Joshua is the same. He is a very good boxer. Floyd Mayweather is the best boxer I’ve ever seen. They’re fighting these very tough guys as amateurs. Conor McGregor should fight Floyd Mayweather. He should. Even if he loses, and he gets embarrassed, he will make so much money doing it that he needs to do it. But can Stipe Miocic and Jimi Manuwa actually draw in the sport of boxing? They can’t. So it’s like what are you doing it for? You can’t possibly be doing it for the money because the reality is you’d make more money in the UFC where you can fight and where you’re at your best than you would in boxing. They’re not going to make millions and millions of dollars. Stipe fought Anthony Joshua he would not make millions of dollars. Anthony Joshua just fought Wladimir Klitschko and obviously made a lot of money. It was on HBO. They didn’t need to sell PPV so they did it on HBO. Are you telling me Joshua vs. Miocic is going to be on PPV? It makes no sense.

Why no let up on Jon Jones from you?

I’ve gone there so many times with Jon and been burned so many times. There’s no point anymore. I feel like because of that I think he never truly has to answer for his mess ups.

Does the Jones ‘thing’ keep you very motivated?

It is motivating. I train so hard. He kind of crept up on me. I was doing my thing, working hard but not really in a hard camp, and all of a sudden we have this fight. Now I’m already training, already sparring, already getting some good work in. This is everything to me. This legacy. This is the one that matters. This is the one that mattered from January 1st, 2015. I knew that we would be back here doing this again. Now it’s finally time.

What do you do differently the second time after UFC 182?

I’ve got to do a number of things different. We re-watch the fight and go through all of our stuff and there’s a number of things we did wrong. I kind of fell in a straight line against him last time and I was too there for his knees and kicks. I really do have to work on the kick defense. There’s a lot of things, man. But there were areas where I found success too. I’m just going to try and fight in those areas much, much more.

Will the layoff have an effect on Jones?

I think the guy is so talented that it won’t make that much of a difference. I think he’s so talented he’ll be fine. But there will be a few things. I think he’ll be OK, though. He’s a talented guy.

So how do you feel about him as a fighter – and as a man?

I do respect him as a fighter. How can you not? He’s done a lot of things in his career, but there are a few things on the opposite end that I really don’t respect all that much. Even Jon says it at times. This is not my personal life. You know what, he’s right. So, whatever. I just want to beat him.

Will you ever be friends? Will hatchets be buried when your careers are done?

No, I have enough friends in my life. I’m pretty sure he’s got some friends too. We don’t need each other in that aspect.

Are you going to fight Jimi Manuwa?

He does deserve a fight because the division is shallow. He was in position to get a title fight. But this Jones fight needs to happen, so I asked for that. I’ll fight Jimi Manuwa after I finish Jones. I don’t think Jimi really wants that fight but I’ll give it to him. I’ve never fought overseas, but I’d love to fight in the UK.

What has working as an analyst on television – both cageside and in the studio – done for your career?

It’s made me a better fighter. I have to look at these guys as pure athletes, not opponents. When I break these guys down as an analyst it’s much different. It’s my job to be fair to them. I have to let all competitiveness go out the window. When I’m watching these guys as competitors you can’t help but constantly look for weaknesses. As an analyst, I just broke them down in terms of who they are. I’m not finding weaknesses. I see their good and bad. I think that’s great.

Do you do charity work outside TV work and UFC fights?

I do more stuff around San Jose. I coach, man. I want to teach kids this sport that has done so much for me. I teach them what I learned. I want to teach them how to grow up to not only be good wrestlers but good citizens. I don’t make any money off of it. I just teach the kids.

What does Javier Mendez, at AKA in San Jose, do for you?

He does everything for me. He’s my head coach and a great friend, great trainer, he’s there for me in my best times and in my worst times. He’s a great guy.

How far away is retirement or how much longer do you want to go on ?

I think when you start looking forward to the end it’s too tempting to just say I want to work at Fox, wear nice suits and get people doing stuff for me. It’s much easier than getting punched in the face every day.

How do you want fans to remember you when you do hang ’em up?

I just want to be remembered as a guy who gave it his all, man. I just gave it 110% every time I fought, whether I won or lost. I competed hard every single time.

Final thing. We zoom back in time to Rome. Would you have been a gladiator in the Coliseum who fought for his freedom?

Oh Man... Brother... I think they were playing for keeps then. I really enjoy my life (laughs long and loud). I gotta run and take my son to wrestling practice.

DANIEL CORMIER - BY THE NUMBERS:

• 4 Former champions defeated: Josh Barnett, Frank Mir, Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva
• 88% Landed 85 of 97 strikes in the ‘Rumble’ rematch
• 10 = Number of wins at heavyweight before cutting to 205lb.
• 1 - Jon Jones is the only man to beat DC in mixed martial arts
• 58 Sig. strikes landed on Jon Jones – only Alexander Gustafsson has managed more
• Conceded just six takedowns in MMA – three against Jones