As a former Olympic wrestler, Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier (8-0) feels its the job of his opponent to learn proper takedown defense before the two meet, and if they’re unable to defend his takedown “then they deserve to lay on their back for 15 minutes.”
Cormier offered those thoughts during Tuesday’s media call for the upcoming Strikeforce Grand Prix semi-final event, scheduled for next month.
The undefeated heavyweight is scheduled to meet Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in the Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament semi-finals, replacing former Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem who was removed after he was released by Zuffa earlier this summer.
Speaking to the media, Cormier spoke about the us of wrestling and the “lay and pray” style that many have labelled that style of fighting.
“It’s not my job, it’s not Jon Fitch’s job, it’s not Josh Barnett’s job to actually teach someone takedown defense,” Cormier said Tuesday during a media call. “It’s their job to learn takedown defense. If they can’t defend the takedown, then they deserve to lay on their back for 15 minutes.”
“Why should I or anyone else that knows how to wrestle give up their biggest advantage?,” Cormier said. “If a jiu-jitsu guy can get you down, he’s going to use his jiu-jitsu. If a striker can keep you standing, he’s going to use his standup ability. It’s your job, which MMA is, which fighting is, to learn all areas of the game.”
Cormier meets Silva on the Showtime televised main card on Sept. 10 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The other semi-final bout sees former UFC champ Josh Barnett face Russian striker Sergei Kharitonov.
Props to MMAFighting.com for the transcript