Tag: daniel cormier

Video: Daniel Cormier and Ryan Bader Exchange Expletives at Press Conference

Daniel Cormier has some interesting press conferences.
In his first press conference as champion there was unexpected drama. Cormier started discussing Ryan Bader, who he was originally slated to fight in New Orleans, and Bader was in the room. Bader s…

Daniel Cormier has some interesting press conferences.

In his first press conference as champion there was unexpected drama. Cormier started discussing Ryan Bader, who he was originally slated to fight in New Orleans, and Bader was in the room. Bader started to respond to DC, and made his way to the table. Shenanigans ensued.

UFC officials stepped in between the two top-five ranked fighters, but Cormier was vocal with some choice words for the title hopeful.

The two had a Twitter exchange prior to UFC 187 where Bader accused Cormier of getting out of their proposed matchup. Cormier of course responded in tow. Cormier reaffirmed his position at the press conference, stating he asked for Bader because he wanted “the easiest fight in the division, I want Ryan Bader.”

There has been very little buzz about this potential matchup, but this post-fight press conference exchange could add a little spice to the potential title tilt. Bader is the only contender coming off a victory, and that would make him the next logical choice should Cormier defend the belt prior to Jones returning to action.

Will Cormier wait? Not according to the man himself.

At the press conference, Cormier said he is 36 years old and will not wait on Jones. As the champion, he has a point. Jones was stripped of the title. There is no logical reason that Cormier should wait on Jones to be reinstated off of an indefinite suspension. That should not be a concern of his.

Bader poses an interesting matchup for Cormier. On paper, he looks to be outmatched. Cormier is the better wrestler and has the better boxing. However, Bader has improved dramatically over the past two years. He has big power in his hands, and Cormier has been taken down inside the Octagon. He was taken down at UFC 187.

Cormier jokingly blamed the post-fight press conference shenanigans on UFC Vice President of Public Relations Dave Sholler. Sholler was the man in between him and Jones in their scuffle last year. Cormier suggested none of this would have happened if White were present.

Bader and Cormier seem to be on a collision course, and the UFC may bite while Jones is on the shelf. Cormier came out of the event without serious injury, and Bader is completely free. The heated exchanges will make for an interesting build for the fight.

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Johnson vs. Cormier: Video Highlights from UFC 187 Main Event

Daniel Cormier is your new UFC light heavyweight champion.
Anthony Johnson entered as the No. 1-ranked light heavyweight, and Cormier as the No. 3-ranked in the division. It was a striker vs. grappler matchup for the vacant gold. After Bruce Buffer fin…

Daniel Cormier is your new UFC light heavyweight champion.

Anthony Johnson entered as the No. 1-ranked light heavyweight, and Cormier as the No. 3-ranked in the division. It was a striker vs. grappler matchup for the vacant gold. After Bruce Buffer finished the pomp and circumstance it was time to fight.

Johnson opened the fight with a stunning overhand right hand that stunned Cormier. Johnson tried to pounce, but Cormier was able to survive and get hold of Johnson. Once he had his hands around Rumble, Cormier made him carry all of his weight.

There was not a lot of offense thrown, but Cormier used the position to wear down Johnson while he recovered from the hard punch. He got Johnson on the turf to continue tiring him out. It was a close first round due to Johnson’s early success.

In the second round, DC started to take over.

Johnson was already visibly tiring. Cormier covered up from an early Johnson barrage, and once again put his Greco-Roman wrestling to use. Johnson was wilting under the pressure of Cormier‘s superior grappling. Johnson was sucking wind hard. It was a dominant round that saw Cormier earn a couple of 10-8 rounds on the judge’s scorecards.

When the third round started it was obvious Johnson was done.

Cormier put him back on the canvas, worked from half-guard and slowly worked toward a finish. Finally, Johnson gave up his back, and that allowed Cormier to sink in the rear-naked choke. Johnson had to tap out. Cormier got his hand raised, and gold wrapped around his waist.

The former USA Wrestling standout finally culminated a run up the MMA ladder with UFC gold.

Johnson had his moments, but his cardio failed him under the pressure of Cormier. In the wasteland of 205, Johnson will be in prime position to earn another title shot sooner than later. This will be a valuable learning experience.

UFC 187 crowned a new division leader. Cormier wears the gold that used to be Jon Jones’, and perhaps a rematch is just around the corner. Cormier‘s UFC 187 showing also earned him an extra $50,000 with a performance bonus.

That tells you all you need to know about DC’s championship performance.

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UFC 187 Results: The Fight Night Bonuses from Johnson vs. Cormier Fight Card

UFC 187 got off to a rocky start with some lackluster prelims, but the main card turned it up to 11.
All five fights delivered.

Flyweights John Moraga and Joseph Benavidez performed at a high level and had some good grappling exchanges. Lightweights D…

UFC 187 got off to a rocky start with some lackluster prelims, but the main card turned it up to 11.

All five fights delivered.

Flyweights John Moraga and Joseph Benavidez performed at a high level and had some good grappling exchanges. Lightweights Donald Cerrone and John Makdessi showcased their standing in the next fight. Then Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne tore the house down.

And the night wasn’t over. There were still two title fights to go.

Chris Weidman and Daniel Cormier continued to show the power of USA Wrestling. Both men took their opponents down and dominated. Weidman in quicker fashion with a TKO in the first round, and Cormier got the submission in the third after breaking Anthony Johnson.

After that main card, who won the bonuses? Here’s who:

 

Performance of the Night: Chris Weidman

Weidman got $50,000 in performance bonus money for his destruction of Vitor Belfort.

He had to take a few punches during Belfort‘s early flurry, but he was never in big danger. He covered up nicely while Belfort wasted energy. Then came the takedown. Once Belfort was down, Weidman easily passed into mount where he landed quality ground-and-pound.

The first-round TKO finish was certainly worth the bonus cash.

 

Performance of the Night: Daniel Cormier

It was almost a short night for Cormier.

DC got dropped by an early overhand right from Johnson, but he was able to recover. Once he regained his bearings, DC was able to initiate his game plan. Cormier‘s wrestling is vastly superior to Johnson’s, and he made him carry his weight.

Johnson gassed visibly very quickly. In the second round, Johnson was only able to muster a short burst of strikes before once again meeting the mat. In the third, Cormier finished with a rear-naked choke.

After the fight, Cormier called out Jon Jones. Jones is still indefinitely suspended, but UFC President Dana White said earlier in the week he will get an immediate title shot once he is reinstated. Thus, it would appear the second fight between the rivals is on tap once Jones is clear to return.

But this is all about UFC 187. Cormier‘s championship showing earned him pocket change.

 

Fight of the Night: Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne

There is no other choice than the crazy, insane, fantastic heavyweight scrap between Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne.

It was bonkers.

Arlovski rocked Browne repeatedly only to nearly suffer a knockout loss. Arlovski worked back up to his feet and hurt Browne again! This time he was able to finish. And I am underselling what happened in that fight. The round of the year.

The heavyweight tilt may very well be at the top of the list for Fight of the Year in 2015. It was that good. Time will tell what the victory does for Arlovski, but there is little doubt this was one of his most memorable fights. It was an instant classic. Fantastic fight worth every penny.

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UFC 187 Results: Daniel Cormier Blasts Jon Jones After Beating Johnson for Title

Daniel Cormier finally got his hands on UFC gold at UFC 187, soundly defeating Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. That said, DC wasn’t content in simply taking the belt. Speaking with Joe Rogan in the cage after having his hand raised, he called out Jon Jones i…

Daniel Cormier finally got his hands on UFC gold at UFC 187, soundly defeating Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. That said, DC wasn’t content in simply taking the belt. Speaking with Joe Rogan in the cage after having his hand raised, he called out Jon Jones in emphatic fashion.

The call-out was a wise move for Cormier, who faced Jones in January at UFC 182 in a highly anticipated grudge match. While some expected Cormier’s elite-level wrestling to be a serious challenge for Jones, the former champ consistently out-maneuvered and out-positioned him along the cage, setting him up for a unanimous 49-46 decision victory.

While it is up for debate whether or not Cormier has anything new for Jones in a potential rematch, there is no denying that his victory over Johnson was one of the best in his career. Cormier successfully weathered Johnson’s power striking, and repeatedly took Johnson down. By the third round, Rumble was incredibly sluggish and, when Cormier sunk in a rear-naked choke, barely attempted to defend it.

Cormier fell into the title shot when Jones was stripped of the title and suspended indefinitely in April due to an alleged hit-and-run case in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to witnesses, Jones ran a red light while driving a rented vehicle, crashing into a car driven by a pregnant woman, leaving her with a broken arm. Jones then proceeded to flee on foot, but turned himself over to authorities the next day. There is currently no timetable for Jones to return, but UFC President Dana White has gone on record saying that he will be offered an immediate title shot when the time comes.

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Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson: What We Learned from UFC 187 Title Fight

The void left by Jon Jones’ absence in the light heavyweight division will remain a difficult fix.
But after Saturday’s main event at UFC 187, the 205-pound roster finally has a new champ to target.

On the heels of relentless grappling and outstanding…

The void left by Jon Jones’ absence in the light heavyweight division will remain a difficult fix.

But after Saturday’s main event at UFC 187, the 205-pound roster finally has a new champ to target.

On the heels of relentless grappling and outstanding conditioning, Daniel Cormier practically obliterated Anthony “Rumble” Johnson en route to capturing the light heavyweight title via a third-round rear-naked choke.

Here is what we learned from the ultra-important championship fight as DC solidified his spot among today’s elite fighters.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

Cormier’s pressure, persistence and ability to overwhelm Johnson were the main things we will remember from this title fight.

Johnson was able to land in fashion when Cormier gave him distance, but he just didn’t do enough in close quarters to ward off DC’s wrestling.

Rumble’s inability to push Cormier off of him on the ground was also truly significant in this fight, which was a by-product of sapped energy and inferior technique.

All in all, the Olympian followed his cut-and-dry game plan to repel one of the best power punchers in the sport today.

 

What We Learned About Cormier

It’s no secret that Cormier’s pressure-cooking wrestling is arguably the best in the business.

At UFC 187, he showed that against a super athlete with freak power and worthwhile takedown defense.

Even after eating relentless combinations, head kicks and body shots, Cormier pushed forward like he does every day in the gym opposite UFC heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez.

Everything that Cormier displayed on Saturday is what you expect from a ground-and-pound, grind-’em-out light heavyweight who apparently has an iron chin.

 

What We Learned About Johnson

Taking nothing away from Johnson and his return to MMA prominence, he more or less laid down for Cormier at UFC 187.

He certainly had his opportunities to end the fight via knockout, but his lack of conditioning and inability to overcome adversity off his back ultimately cost him a UFC title.

We learned that if Johnson doesn’t land those fight-ending power shots in the first few minutes of the fight, he’ll fade when pushed.

It’s unfortunate because he’s one of the most likeable players in the 205-pound division today.

 

What’s Next for Cormier

If Jones is able to fight by the end of the year, then a rematch between the two is the only option at this point.

But if the former champ is not allowed to enter the Octagon in the near future, Ryan Bader is probably the most likely to challenge Cormier for his first title defense.

It may not be the most entertaining choice because DC’s wrestling will certainly take over once again, but Bader has earned his keep and was already scheduled to fight Cormier at UFC Fight Night 68 in June before the new champ filled in to fight Rumble.

However, if Alexander Gustafsson or Rashad Evans can get healthy fast, then they would serve as worthy contenders.

 

What’s Next for Johnson

At just 31 years of age, Johnson has a long future ahead of him in the UFC light heavyweight division.

His power is truly crowd pleasing and a staple of his game that will allow him to successfully promote in the future.

With that said, his conditioning was called into question on Saturday night, and he needs someone who is going to stand and exchange with him to get back on track.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is someone who fits that mold to a tee.

 

For more UFC 187 news and coverage,

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UFC 187: Daniel Cormier’s Golden Dream Finally Becomes a Reality

LAS VEGAS — It didn’t happen the way he wanted the first time around. And maybe the second time around isn’t exactly what he’d envisioned, either, after he lost to Jon Jones in January.
But Daniel Cormier spent a lifetime dreaming of being a worl…

LAS VEGAS — It didn’t happen the way he wanted the first time around. And maybe the second time around isn’t exactly what he’d envisioned, either, after he lost to Jon Jones in January.

But Daniel Cormier spent a lifetime dreaming of being a world champion wrestler, and then fell short when his chance came. And he was soundly beaten by Jones, and it’s a certainty that Cormier, after all of the talking and the beef and the brawl and the anger, would have much rather taken the championship from around the waist of Jones himself.

But Jones isn’t around, and that isn’t Cormier’s fault. Jones is on the sidelines because of his inability to get his act together. We can rehash all of that until the cows come home, but the point is this: Cormier is the new UFC light heavyweight champion, and he is the rightful UFC champion until Jones proves he is deserving of a place as a competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Cormier survived an early onslaught from the terrifying Anthony “Rumble” Johnson to become the new champion in Jones’ absence. He was dropped early, and for a few seconds there, well, it felt like Rumble was going to claim another victim with his ridiculous power. His kicks to Cormier’s head, mostly blocked by the former Olympian’s hands, resounded throughout the arena.

Sitting here cageside, 20 feet away from the action, they sent a dreadful feeling deep into the pit of your stomach. The punch that sent Cormier reeling made the same sound.

But when Cormier finished stumbling, he stood up, and he went to work. The bloodthirsty fans in the MGM Grand Garden Arena claim to be mixed martial arts fans, but what they actually wanted was just a standup war.

When Cormier pressed Johnson against the cage wall, they booed. When he put Johnson on his back in the second round and methodically wore him out with ground-and-pound and kimura attempts, they booed. But when he secured the rear-naked choke that would finish the job in the third round, they cheered.

Cormier rose to his feet and smiled, lifting his arms in the air. When Dana White strapped the belt around his waist and Bruce Buffer announced him as the new world champion, his smile grew even wider.

No longer just a contender. Finally a champion.

And then Cormier turned his savvy and attention to setting up a future rematch with Jones, telling the former champion to get his s–t together and come back, because Cormier is waiting for him. It was an effective use of microphone time, especially in an industry where so many fighters don’t understand the power of that interview spot.

And the truth is, until Jones comes back, many will consider Cormier an interim champion. They are incorrect, of course, because Cormier did not force Jones to unspool his personal life. Jones did all of that. But still, Cormier must beat Jones in order to solidify what he accomplished, because Jones is the greatest fighter in the history of the sport and will remain so for a very long time.

There has never been a Jones, there will never be another Jones, and until such moment comes as he’s actually dethroned, there will always be unfinished business for Cormier.

But all of that will (or will not) come in the future, when Jones comes back, if he comes back. This moment and this night belong to Cormier, who finally has the gold he began searching for as a seventh-grader growing up in Louisiana.

 

Jeremy Botter covers mixed martial arts for Bleacher Report.

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