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Daniel Cormier has had a rough couple of weeks. Not only did “DC” lose his title rematch with Stipe Miocic back at UFC 241 but he lost his father to cancer just one week ago.
Cormier, who is widely regarded as one of the best MMA fighters of all time, is a truly strong competitor and person. But losing a parent and a UFC title in the same month is enough heartache to push any fighter into depression.
Luckily for Cormier, he has a team around him at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) that has his best interests at heart. This includes current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has trained alongside “DC” since 2012 and has done everything he can to help the former champion cope with his recent losses.
“When DC loses, it was a very sad moment for us,” said Khabib earlier this week during a media conference call for UFC 242 (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “Same time, Cain Velasquez lost his mother and after a couple of days, DC lost his father. It was a little bit hard week for all AKA team but it is what it is. When God wants something, nobody can change this. Losing the belt is nothing when you lose your father or mother. When you lose belt, of course DC is sad but when you lose you father, it’s completely different.
“We feel bad for him but we know how DC is a competitor, how DC is strong. I want to wish him good luck. We just talked with him a couple of days ago. We talked with him about my fight, we talk about his fight, about his father, but I just try to give him good energy. Right now he’s having a hard time in his life but time changes everything. I know he’s going to be good.”
Cormier, who turned 40 back in March, had plans to retire from the sport of MMA earlier this year. But when a chance to fight WWE superstar Brock Lesnar landed on his doorstep “DC” suspended his life plans and kept things moving. Lesnar obviously never made it back to UFC and Cormier willingly entered into a rematch with Miocic, who had lost to Cormier via knockout in their first encounter one year ago.
While Khabib initially wanted Cormier to retire following his rematch with Miocic at UFC 241, the undefeated Russian champion is now changing his tune. Instead, Nurmagomedov hopes Cormier returns for a trilogy fight with Stipe in early 2020 and then calls it quits before his 41st birthday.
“I really want him to fight with Stipe Miocic rematch and finish his career,” Nurmagomedov said. “This is what I want.
“I don’t know about his plan but honestly I want him to fight maybe February or March, fight with him last fight and then finish.”
As it stands right now, Cormier has yet to make a decision on his fighting future. But considering he was winning his rematch with Miocic before getting finished via TKO in the fourth round it’s likely that Cormier takes another big payday, straps the MMA gloves on one more time, and rides off into the sunset, win or lose, before next spring.