Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
UFC president Dana White does not think retirement should be Daniel Cormier’s next move just yet.
After his loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 241 on Saturday, Daniel Cormier is uncertain about his next career move. He has yet to make a final decision, but the former two-division UFC champion did say he will likely fight again if gets to “right the wrong” of the Miocic rematch.
For UFC president Dana White, however, “DC” still has a lot left in the tank at 40 years of age.
“I think he’s one of the best in the world,” White said of Cormier after the recent Tuesday Night Contender Series event (via MMA Junkie). “I was looking at the (official UFC) rankings today when they came out – it’s just f—ng insane to me. This guy on Saturday night was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
“He loses and drops to No. 7, and he loses to the No. 1 heavyweight contender in the world, and the guy who has the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history, and Cormier drops to No. 7? It’s crazy. He’s much higher than that, and he’s one of the best to ever do it. He’s still one of the best in the world.”
“He looked damn good until, like I said the night of the fight, whoever came up with that ‘go to the body’ gameplan in between rounds was f—ng brilliant,” he continued. “Brilliant. It was even more brilliant the way Stipe executed it.
“So, yes, I think he’s one of the best in the world, and I don’t think he should retire, but that’s up to him and his family.”
White adds that he’s willing to give both Cormier and Miocic the opportunity to fight for a third time, if both fighters want it.
“I’ll do anything (Cormier) wants to do, and obviously I’ll do anything that Stipe wants to do,” he said. “Stipe’s got to want the trilogy, too.”
Cormier plummeted to number seven at the pound-for-pound rankings after holding the top spot for a while. Back on number one is his old rival, current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.