Tag: daniel cormier

Daniel Cormier Condemns 12-to-6 Elbows, Labels Them Street Fighting: ‘We’ll get back to soccer kicks.’

Daniel Cormier Condemns 12-to-6 Elbows, Labels Them Street Fighting 'We’ll get back to soccer kicks.'Daniel Cormier believes allowing 12-to-6 elbows in the UFC will only perpetuate claims that mixed martial arts is nothing…

Daniel Cormier Condemns 12-to-6 Elbows, Labels Them Street Fighting 'We’ll get back to soccer kicks.'

Daniel Cormier believes allowing 12-to-6 elbows in the UFC will only perpetuate claims that mixed martial arts is nothing more than glorified “street fighting.

Earlier this year, The Association of Boxing Commissions unanimously voted to abolish the controversial 12-to-6 elbow rule.

12-to-6 elbow ruling

Ironically, the decision will go into effect on November 1, days before Jon Jones is expected to defend his undisputed heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Before ‘Bones’ became the youngest champion in UFC history, he was notoriously disqualified for landing a series of 12-to-6 elbows on opponent Matt Hamill in 2009.

Jon Jones DQ'd for 12-to-6 elbows

With 12-to-6 elbows no longer an illegal maneuver, Jones could look to have the DQ loss overturned and eliminate the only stain on his career thus far.

12-to-6

However, Cormier is not a fan of ABC’s ruling, believing that this is just the first step toward allowing other banned strikes, like soccer kicks, and blurring the lines between the UFC and the kind of garbage you see on WorldstarHipHop.

“I don’t like that,” Cormier said on a recent episode of his Funky & The Champ podcast with Ben Askren. “I don’t like 12-to-6 elbows, and I don’t like soccer kicks. Here’s my thought: when I was fighting Rumble Johnson, you couldn’t [move the elbows straight down]. But you could do it with an arch, so I was able to cut Rumble with an arching elbow, but it came straight down…

“I just don’t want anything that makes fighting look like a street fight, that’s it. John McCain, before he passed, was against fighting because it was “human cockfighting.” They would show these videos of gang fights, people running around, and people on the ground. It starts to look like that again, and that’s not good man. The moment we start opening those rules again, it’s gonna be more and more and more, and ultimately we’ll get back to soccer kicks” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Joe Rogan has a different take on the 12-to-6 elbow rule

Cormier’s pay-per-view broadcast partner Joe Rogan does not see it the same way.

The longtime color commentator has often lobbied for the reinstatement of 12-to-6 elbows by calling it “one of the dumbest rules in combat sports.”

Who’s side are you on, Cormier or Rogan?

Daniel Cormier on Conor McGregor Making Peace with Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘He Hates Him’

Daniel Cormier on Conor McGregor Making Peace with Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘He Hates Him’Will we ever see Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov bury the hatchet? No, probably not. Despite only meeting once…

Daniel Cormier on Conor McGregor Making Peace with Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘He Hates Him’

Will we ever see Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov bury the hatchet?

No, probably not.

Despite only meeting once inside the Octagon, McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov is without a doubt the most intense rivalry in UFC history. Six years after their history-making encounter at UFC 229 — the only pay-per-view to eclipse two million buys in promotional history — their feud rages on with the Irish megastar often taking digs at ‘The Eagle’ on social media and in interviews.

Conor McGregor and Khabib

Recently, McGregor went off on both Nurmagomedov and former U.S. president Donald Trump after ’45’ dubbed the Dagestani his favorite UFC fighter of all time.

While Trump got off relatively light with McGregor calling his remarks a “campaign-ending decision,” Nurmagomedov took the brunt of the backlash as ‘Mystic Mac’ labeled him a “smelly fat mountain monkey from the inbred mountains of Dagestan.”

Conor McGregor

Could Conor McGregor find peace in fighting Nurmagomedov’s protege?

Daniel Cormier, who is close friends with Nurmagomedov, offered his take on the constant quarreling between the two former champions and the possibility of ever seeing them squash their beef.

“He just hates Khabib. He hates him… They are not letting it go,” Cormier told Ben Askren during a recent episode of their Funky & The Champ podcast. “It’s deep-rooted, but it’s deep-rooted on both sides, honestly… [Khabib] doesn’t like this guy, bro. They don’t like each other. This is crazy. It really is. It’s deep. It’s very deep, but I think the closest thing you would get to a resolution in that is, again, Conor beating [Michael Chandler] and then earning a championship fight against Islam Makhachev, right?

“Then Khabib could probably try to find some comfort in that and Conor could try to actually find redemption in trying to beat the guy that became the guy, right? So, there’s stories there. I don’t know that it happens because Michael Chandler can’t seem to get a date” (h/t Sportskeeda).

The idea of Conor McGregor challenging current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev may seem far-fetched at this point, but considering the Irishman’s immense drawing power and the pre-written history between McGregor and Eagles MMA, we could see Dana White putting that fight together in a bid to break UFC 229’s record as the most-viewed event in the promotion’s 30+ years.

Of course, that all rides on McGregor getting past Michael Chandler when (or if) they fight.

Conor McGregor

Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’ 

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t appear pleased with one upcoming change to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) held its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, late last month. During it, a rule vote resulted in the approval of two long-awaited changes. In addition […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’  at MMA News.

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t appear pleased with one upcoming change to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) held its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, late last month. During it, a rule vote resulted in the approval of two long-awaited changes.

In addition to redefining what constitutes a grounded opponent, the ban on fighters throwing “12-6” elbows is set to be lifted later this year. The linear downward elbow was notably the cause of the sole defeat on the record of light heavyweight legend and current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

Many in the community have long argued against claims that the direction of the elbows are more dangerous than a conventional, angled strike. With that, the confirmed rule change was positively received by a large portion of fans, fighters, and pundits.

One ex-UFC athlete, however, is concerned about the ball of lifting the prohibition on certain moves now rolling…

Cormier Worried About ‘Street Fight’ Moves Returning To MMA

During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Ben Askren, Cormier gave his take on the long debate surrounding “12-6” elbows and the recent ABC ruling regarding the move.

“DC” voiced his opposition to allowing the banned strike, insisting that the decision to reverse long-standing prohibitions will only pave the way for further “street fight” moves finding their way back into the sport and affecting its legitimacy.

“I don’t like that. I don’t like 12-6 elbows and I don’t like soccer kicks,” Cormier said. “I don’t want — here’s my thought…I just do’t want everything that makes fighting look like a street fight. That’s it. … John McCain, before he passed, was against fighting because he said, ‘It’s human cockfighting.’ They would show these videos of gang fights and people on the ground and they would just kick them in the face. If we get to soccer kicks, it starts to look like that again, and that’s not good.

“I don’t like the 12-6 elbows. The 12-6 elbow I don’t feel as strongly about. I don’t care as much about 12-6 elbows (as soccer kicks),” Cormier continued. “But I think the moment we start opening those rules again, it’s gonna be more, and more, and more, and eventually we’ll get back to soccer kicks.”

Cormier’s view would appear to be in the minority, with many praising both the removal of that ban and the new definition of a grounded opponent following the ABC conference in July.

Both adjustments will officially come into place on November 1, 2024.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’  at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’ 

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t appear pleased with one upcoming change to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) held its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, late last month. During it, a rule vote resulted in the approval of two long-awaited changes. In addition […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’  at MMA News.

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t appear pleased with one upcoming change to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) held its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, late last month. During it, a rule vote resulted in the approval of two long-awaited changes.

In addition to redefining what constitutes a grounded opponent, the ban on fighters throwing “12-6” elbows is set to be lifted later this year. The linear downward elbow was notably the cause of the sole defeat on the record of light heavyweight legend and current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

Many in the community have long argued against claims that the direction of the elbows are more dangerous than a conventional, angled strike. With that, the confirmed rule change was positively received by a large portion of fans, fighters, and pundits.

One ex-UFC athlete, however, is concerned about the ball of lifting the prohibition on certain moves now rolling…

Cormier Worried About ‘Street Fight’ Moves Returning To MMA

During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Ben Askren, Cormier gave his take on the long debate surrounding “12-6” elbows and the recent ABC ruling regarding the move.

“DC” voiced his opposition to allowing the banned strike, insisting that the decision to reverse long-standing prohibitions will only pave the way for further “street fight” moves finding their way back into the sport and affecting its legitimacy.

“I don’t like that. I don’t like 12-6 elbows and I don’t like soccer kicks,” Cormier said. “I don’t want — here’s my thought…I just do’t want everything that makes fighting look like a street fight. That’s it. … John McCain, before he passed, was against fighting because he said, ‘It’s human cockfighting.’ They would show these videos of gang fights and people on the ground and they would just kick them in the face. If we get to soccer kicks, it starts to look like that again, and that’s not good.

“I don’t like the 12-6 elbows. The 12-6 elbow I don’t feel as strongly about. I don’t care as much about 12-6 elbows (as soccer kicks),” Cormier continued. “But I think the moment we start opening those rules again, it’s gonna be more, and more, and more, and eventually we’ll get back to soccer kicks.”

Cormier’s view would appear to be in the minority, with many praising both the removal of that ban and the new definition of a grounded opponent following the ABC conference in July.

Both adjustments will officially come into place on November 1, 2024.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’  at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier thinks Tom Aspinall should switch strategy if he really wants to tempt Jon Jones into a fight. Aspinall’s case for the next shot at Jones grew ever stronger in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304 at MMA News.

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier thinks Tom Aspinall should switch strategy if he really wants to tempt Jon Jones into a fight.

Aspinall’s case for the next shot at Jones grew ever stronger in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

Close to home, Aspinall put his interim heavyweight title on the line in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, pursuing both a successful first defense and redemption for the injury-forced TKO setback he fell to opposite “Razor” in 2022.

It took the Brit just one minute to achieve those goals, dropping Blaydes with a stiff jab before reigning down ground-and-pound for the first-round stoppage.

As expected, Aspinall had Jones’ name on his lips post-fight, remaining respectful with his latest callout of the heavyweight titleholder. One of Jones’ former opponents, however, thinks he needs to abandon his nice nature…

Cormier: Aspinall Must ‘Get Louder’ & ‘Rile Up’ Jones

During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his take on the events that unfolded at UFC 304 from cageside inside Manchester’s Co-op Live.

“DC” touched on his Octagon interview with Aspinall following the co-headliner, claiming the Brit needs to change approach and begin ‘riling up’ Jones if he is to ensure a future dream showdown with the former two-time light heavyweight champ.

“This guy seems to be the future and the present of the heavyweight division,” Cormier said. “You know, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are gonna fight each other, and deservedly so. … When they get to New York and they fight, Tom Aspinall needs to be in the building, if he’s smart.

“I watched him finish, I watched the way the crowd reacted to him, and I watched his callout to Jon Jones. And in Tom Aspinall fashion, he was nice about it,” Cormier continued. “He needs to rile up Jones a little bit to get the people more invested. … I have seen the crowd get so behind a certain person that the organization will pivot. … Maybe they’ll pivot and make Aspinall vs. Jones right now. We don’t know…but Aspinall has to get a little bit louder.”

Jones had a short and succinct response to Aspinall’s UFC 304 triumph and post-fight callout on social media. By all accounts, the Brit’s emphatic performance did little to convince “Bones” or the UFC to alter their plans for an expected November title fight.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304 at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier Believes Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad Are Underestimating Each Other Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Both Of These Guys Are Much Better…’

Daniel Cormier recently remarked that Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad’s assertions of downplaying each other’s abilities ahead of their rematch at UFC 304 are far more than mere wordplay. Edwards is set to put his title on the line against Muhammad in the main event of the upcoming UFC pay-per-view this Saturday in front of […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Believes Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad Are Underestimating Each Other Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Both Of These Guys Are Much Better…’ at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier recently remarked that Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad’s assertions of downplaying each other’s abilities ahead of their rematch at UFC 304 are far more than mere wordplay.

Edwards is set to put his title on the line against Muhammad in the main event of the upcoming UFC pay-per-view this Saturday in front of his hometown crowd at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

The two fighters first collided in a short-notice bout during the main event of UFC Fight Night in March 2021. Regrettably, an accidental eye poke in the second round compelled “Remember the Name” to bow out, resulting in the bout being ruled a no-contest.

Since their rematch was announced this past May, both rivals have been relentlessly downplaying each other’s abilities through trash talk in interviews and social media posts. Muhammad, in particular, has gone so far as to label Edwards as the “easiest” opponent he could face in the division.

While the animosity between Edwards and Muhammad is palpable, the former UFC two-division champion believes their trash talk is merely a tactic to rile each other up and hype the fight…

Cormier Dismisses Edwards and Muhammad’s Verbal Jabs As ‘Gamesmanship’

During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, “DC” observed that both Edwards and Muhammad seem to be underestimating each other, each believing that their opponent hasn’t improved since their first fight three years ago.

“I think we’re in a situation where both of these guys are looking at the other, going, ‘Well, he ain’t what he’s supposed to be,’” Cormier said. “When I hear Leon Edwards talk about the competition, it feels like ‘Rocky’ expects the Belal that he kicked in the head in round one of the first fight, and then he was kind of beating, but it’s not the same Belal Muhammad.

“But I know Belal Muhammad needs to recognize that it’s not the same Leon Edwards. We saw Leon Edwards change from fight one to fight two against Kamaru Usman.”

The UFC Hall of Famer noted that both fighters are deliberately making provocative remarks to get under each other’s skin and boost their own confidence ahead of their upcoming clash.

“I truly believe that it is all gamesmanship. We’re getting to the point where the gamesmanship starts to show, where you insult the guy to make yourself feel more confident going into the competition.”

Following their initial bout, “Rocky” earned a title shot by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 263 and ultimately dethroned Kamaru Usman to claim the welterweight gold at UFC 278 in August 2022.

Meanwhile, Muhammad had to embark on a five-fight winning streak to finally secure his first UFC title opportunity. Only time will reveal how much both fighters have evolved to counter each other’s game plans.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Believes Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad Are Underestimating Each Other Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Both Of These Guys Are Much Better…’ at MMA News.