Everyone wants a piece of the two-division UFC champion, Daniel Cormier.
Light heavyweight contender Ilir Latifi unfortunately had to withdraw from this Sunday’s UFC Hamburg card due to injury, but that isn’t stopping him from asking for a title shot.
Latifi, who was originally scheduled to face Glover Teixeira, took to Instagram to call out two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, who intends to defend both the light heavyweight and heavyweight belts before retiring.
In case the caption isn’t showing up for you, it reads as follows:
Mister Pound for Pound! Lets give the fans the best possible show at LHW!
Shogun is a legend, and a great fighter, but I’m the only one at the top of LHW that has 5 wins out of my last 6 with 3 KO’s and 1 submission in the first round!
I’m one of the most active fighters in the division! Let us both heal and set it up!
You said it yourself: “Ilir Latifi is the strongest guy I’ve ever trained with.” And with my 100% takedown defense, we all know this will be a slug fest! You never know, I might just take you down once for the fun of it.
Let’s rumble in NYC! LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Latifi (14-5, 1 NC) is currently ranked #4 and is coming off a guillotine finish of Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Orlando in February. His previous outing saw him hand prospect Tyson Pedro his first career loss, as he won by unanimous decision. Only Jan Blachowicz, Gegard Mousasi, and Ryan Bader have been able to beat “The Sledgehammer” inside the Octagon.
It’s an ambitious callout, although Cormier has his sights set on defending against Mauricio Rua, should he beat Anthony Smith in the UFC Hamburg main event.
No timetable has been set for Latifi’s return, although that post suggests he’s at least ready to return by UFC 230, which is November 3rd at Madison Square Garden in New York.