Tag: ufc 220

Anderson Silva Destroys Daniel Cormier’s GOAT Denial

Anderson Silva just put Daniel Cormier in his place.

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This week, Daniel Cormier claimed that only two fighters could join him in the conversation for MMA’s greatest fighter of all-time.

The two high-profile names he left out of the conversation were predictably Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, dominant, dynamic champions who destroyed endless top contenders in the Octagon but also had their careers muddied by drug test failures for performance-enhancing drugs.

Silva responded to the slight in a recent interview with CBS Sports, saying Cormier got lucky when he saved his paycheck at UFC 200 two years ago, and even luckier because he wasn’t even the best fighter at light heavyweight:

“So, it’s very interesting because I take the fight against Daniel [on two days’ notice at UFC 200 in 2016] and I had been training absolutely nothing for months and I had surgery already in my body and I took the fight in saving Daniel money because Jon Jones failed the test. But it’s very interesting Daniel talking about that because when you have problems, everybody has problems.

“When you talk about people, you need to be careful because you never know about your life. You never know about your future. I think Daniel is very lucky and completely lucky because never beating Jon Jones, of course, because Jon Jones in my opinion is the best fighter at 205 [pounds].”

Silva continued to go off on Cormier for his UFC 200 performance, claiming “DC” was lucky he didn’t take the fight for five rounds and only laid on top of him, which he did. “The Spider” respects Cormier, but said he was crazy to talk about him and Jones:

“When I took the fight, Daniel didn’t do nothing. He was completely lucky. He was more lucky because I didn’t take the fight for five rounds and just three, and he don’t do nothing but just hit the ground and use his weight. Why are you talking? Why does Daniel talk?

“I respect, but Danny don’t have to talk about that because I’m very sad about that. That’s the first time I saw this news. I respect Danny, but when he is talking about me and Jon Jones, he’s completely crazy because Jon Jones is the best fighter. I tried to make everything perfect inside the cage for my fans. I don’t know but it’s OK … this is Daniel Cormier.”

Silva then expressed his respect for Jones, the man who beat Cormier and is still considered by many to be by far the best light heavyweight in UFC history.

“The Spider” wasn’t sure about “Bones’” upcoming hearing with USADA, but hoped he returned soon:

“I don’t know. I love Jon Jones, he is my young brother and I hope he comes back fast.”

The longtime former champ has had enough of Cormier’s trash talk and claims, and now that he’s eligible to return after he was exonerated on his second failed USADA drug test, Silva is getting his name back out in the media.

He may not be considered the greatest fighter to ever compete in the UFC by Cormier, yet Silva put “DC’s” position in sharp perspective with his comments – even if it is shrouded by Jones’ controversy.

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Daniel Cormier Reveals Only Two Fighters Can Join Him In GOAT Conversation

Agree with Cormier’s assessment of the GOAT discussion?

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There’s been a lot of conversation about just whom is the greatest of all-time in mixed martial arts lately.

The debate was kicked into overdrive when Daniel Cormier won the UFC heavyweight championship with a first-round knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 227, dethroning a record-setting champion and putting himself near – or some would say at – the top of the decorated list.

Many still claim that disgraced former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who owns two wins over Cormier (one recognized and one illegitimate), but several also believe “Bones” should be disqualified due to his repeated drug test failures. Cormier is among those doubters, not surprisingly, and he recently revealed only the two fighters he believed could be considered the GOAT due to their similar dominance and clean records on the Slip N’ Dip Podcast (via MMA Mania):

“Demetrious, Georges St-Pierre, these guys have none of these bad things tied to their names and these are the guys I should share the conversation with. I’ve never had any negatives and I’ve never had to go in front of any commission and explain why my test came up messed up. That’s why I should be in the conversation because I’ve done things the correct way.”

Cormier may have a good point in that regard. Both St-Pierre and Johnson have always been nothing less than dominant champions and model citizens in terms of passing drug tests while serving as ambassadors to their sport, similar to Cormier.

However, each has their own points of detraction as well, as Cormier will always have the two losses to Jones and hasn’t racked up a streak of title defenses like GSP and ‘Mighty Mouse,’ St-Pierre is always criticized for playing it safe during his late-career streak of victories, and Johnson’s competition in the UFC flyweight division will always be talked about as a reason he isn’t the greatest of all-time.

Jones is the most dominant fighter in history, and Silva arguably had the most impressive run as he finished contender after contender with beautiful knockouts never before seen in the sport. The legends will always have their careers questioned due to drug use, however, and rightfully so.

What do you think? Who is MMA’s GOAT in your opinion?

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Cain Velasquez Is Now Training With WWE

Is Cain Velasquez headed to the WWE?

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The lines between the UFC and WWE continue to be blurred.

Only two weeks after Brock Lesnar caused arguably the most pro-wrestling-inspired moment in UFC history when he stormed the Octagon and shoved Daniel Cormier following “DC’s” first-round knockout win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, one person close to the new double-champ has apparently been inspired by the scripted entertainment.

That man is Cormier’s longtime training partner and former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. The former NCAA wrestling All-American has begun training with WWE in a story posted today on WWE.com along with a video of Velasquez’ training. The man who many believed would be MMA’s greatest heavyweight ever lauded his time with the promotion:

“My experience here has been amazing,” he said. “All the athletes here have just been really easy to talk to — ask questions and get good feedback,” Velasquez said. “I’m just looking to be in here and learn as much as I can in the time that I’m here. I’ve been a fan of the sport since I was a little kid, now I get to participate in it. It’s great that I have all this accessible to me.”

Despite being one of the most dominant forces during the time he was able to make it to the cage, injuries have repeatedly sapped Velasquez of his ability to compete with any degree of consistency, unfortunately sapping an otherwise all-time great of his prime.

Velasquez has been out of the Octagon since UFC 200 over two years ago, where he brutalized Travis Browne in a one-sided fight. But he was removed from his soon-scheduled rematch with Fabricio Werdum shortly thereafter after describing some concerning injuries that lead to the presiding athletic commission to decide – and probably rightfully so – that he could not compete.

For those reasons, his MMA return is unknown, but that doesn’t mean Velasquez is taking it easy in his workouts with WWE:

“It’s tough,” Velasquez said. “It’s tough on the body. It’s tough mentally. But it’s fun. This is what I love to do — I love to compete and work out and I can get to do that here.”

Velasquez reportedly developed an affinity for the WWE after attending their Elimination Chamber PPV this year to see Ronda Rousey’s official signing. Cormier is obviously a huge fan as well, with his willingness to meet Lesnar head-on in a scene many called scripted all too apparent.

Regardless, with the WWE lending the UFC Lesnar and Velasquez now training in pro-wrestling, the connection between the two seems much stronger than it ever has been before. But as many hardcore MMA fans have pondered, is that necessarily a good thing?

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Daniel Cormier Confirms Brock Lesnar Will Be His Last Fight

Daniel Cormier confirmed his title fight with Brock Lesnar will be his last.

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Daniel Cormier knows exactly when he will call it a career.

The UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion has often said he would fight twice more before retiring in the time after his title-winning knockout over Stipe Miocic at July 7’s UFC 226, with one of those bouts being a title fight against returning former champion Brock Lesnar.

The fight was all but confirmed when the WWE champion stormed the Octagon when “DC” called him out with Miocic still recovering, inciting a circus-like scene that was maligned by many MMA fans and media members. But Cormier is trying to cash in in his final fights, and as one of the finest prizefighters the sport has ever seen, it’s tough to blame him.

Cormier has teased defending his 205-pound belt one more time before fighting Lesnar due to the hulking pro wrestler’s suspension with USADA not expiring until January next year. The all-time MMA great hope Lesnar will be his next fight, but regardless of what happens, “DC” recently confirmed to Damon Martin of MMAnytt (via MMA News) that Lesnar would be his last fight:

“He’ll be the last one. He’ll be the last fight of my career,” Cormier said about Lesnar. “Will he be next? I don’t know. I hope so but I’ve still got a belt to defend at 205 [pounds] to think about.”

Cormier tabbed former champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua for his next title defense if Rua can get past Anthony Smith in the UFC Hamburg main event this Sunday, a proposition that has many wondering if he’s merely trolling perceived top contender Alexander Gustafsson. To that suggestion, Cormier played it coy:

“I’ll let you guys figure that one out.”

If he does cut back down to 205 pounds to defend his first UFC title, the possibility to his focus wavering to the huge spectacle of a monster payday against Lesnar. The two-division king said it was a concern, but as the consummate pro, he had to fulfill his duty as champion no matter the name he fought next:

“It’s going to be difficult but as a professional, you have to approach every fight the same exact way,” Cormier said about being excited to face a light heavyweight contender first before fighting Lesnar. “I would prepare myself to win and to defend the title. Any time you’re in a UFC title fight it’s a big deal and for anybody to say they didn’t up for it is crazy.

“You’re a professional. You’re a fighter. You have to get up for these events.”

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Gustafsson: I’ve Fought Guys Who Hit ‘Way Harder’ Than Daniel Cormier

Alexander Gustafsson isn’t so hyped on Daniel Cormier’s knockout power.

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Alexander Gustafsson isn’t exactly pumped about the current state of his light heavyweight division.

Thought to be the next rightful contender to champion Daniel Cormier’s throne, “The Mauler” saw a perceived title shot go up in smoke when it was granted to formerly surging challenger Volkan Oezdemir at January’s UFC 220. Cormier dismantled “No Time” with a quickness, and now Gustafsson will face Oezdemir at August 4’s UFC 227 for the expected top spot at 205 pounds.

Yet it won’t guarantee a shot at Cormier even if he does come out on top, because “DC” has teased granting former champ ‘Shogun’ Rua a shot if the Brazilian great can get past Anthony Smith at July 22’s UFC Hamburg before retiring after his heavyweight fight with Brock Lesnar. So Gustafsson may never get his rematch with “DC” after taking him to the limit in a narrow split decision loss at their classic first bout back in 2015.

He’s voiced his frustration with that on social media, but overall, “The Mauler” actually has high praise for his rival. After Cormier knocked out heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of last weekend’s UFC 226, Gustafsson expressed his respect for the new two-division champ to Luke Thomas on this week’s episode of The MMA Hour. He wasn’t sure who would win the closely-matched superfight but had a feeling it would be Cormier:

“He did great. I’m impressed. I was impressed by the way he finished Stipe and how he won the fight. I’m very impressed by the guy, he did great.

“I didn’t really have a prediction for that fight because I know it’s a very tough fight to predict, but I had a feeling [that ‘DC’ would win]. ‘DC’ is tough and he’s such a good athlete,”

And even though Gustafsson lost to Cormier at 205 pounds after nearly knocking him out with a hellacious knee, the Swedish star believes heavyweight is the best division for him, as he can eat and enjoy the benefit of his true power while not draining himself to make weight:

“I think he’s better at heavyweight than he is at light heavyweight. I think he’s stronger, he can eat and he doesn’t have to stress about the weight. I think he’ll do even better as a heavyweight. I had a feeling he’d win the fight, but just the way he finished [the fight] — it’s probably the wrong thing to say, but he made it look easy.”

The reason he believes that is because of his experience in fighting Cormier. When they fought at light heavyweight, Gustafsson didn’t believe he hit that hard, adding that he’s fought fighters who hit ‘way harder.’ To him, it was Cormier’s relentless will to keep pushing the pace, a characteristic Gustafsson believed to be the double champ’s best attribute:

“[Cormier’s punching power] wasn’t that bad [when we fought],” Gustafsson said. “I don’t remember him punching me that hard. I’ve been fighting guys that punch way harder, but he’s a very hard worker. He keeps pressuring and he keeps throwing punches. He’s really good with his wrestling and he doesn’t stop working in a fight — I think that’s his biggest strength.”

“The Mauler” hopes to move on and compete for the light heavyweight title soon, and believes an interim version should be created if not having Cormier vacate it outright if he’s going to fight at heavyweight next.

It will all depend on the result of his fight against Oezdemir, of course, so “The Mauler” still has work to do.

Do you want to see him get another shot at Cormier before the champ retires?

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Daniel Cormier Owns Yoel Romero In Ongoing Rivalry

Daniel Cormier has had enough of Yoel Romero’s callouts.

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Maybe UFC two-division champion Daniel Cormier does hold all the cards as he says.

In the six days since he won the UFC heavyweight championship by knocking out Stipe Miocic in the main event of July 7’s UFC 226, several high-profile fighters have predictably called out ‘DC’ for one last shot at the soon-to-be-retiring double champ.

There were the expected calls for a rematch by Miocic and former light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson, yet Cormier seems to have his mind made up that he’s going to fight former champion Shogun Rua if he gets past Anthony Smith next weekend and then move on to a heavyweight title bout against a second former champ in Brock Lesnar before retiring. However, there’s a bit of a wild card personality who has been trying to throw his name into the mix, and that’s recent two-time middleweight title contender Yoel Romero.

Missing weight before his last two fights, the Cuban Olympic medalist wrestler has hinted a move up to 205, and he figured he may as well shoot for the stars by calling out Cormier. That lead to the expected shutdown from the vocal ‘DC,’ who likened Romero’s request to ‘failing a class and moving up a grade’ after the ‘Soldier of God’ lost two out of his last three fights:

“Here’s the deal: I never wrestled Yoel Romero, but in wrestling, he probably would have served me up. He’s one of the great wrestlers of all-time. But, you don’t fail a class and then get moved up a grade to the next one.”

Romero was quick to fire back with a vicious comparison of his own, even if it didn’t necessarily make tons of sense based on the dynamics at play:

Finally, Cormier apparently had enough of Romero’s antics, breaking down the succinct reasons he would not be facing Romero soon and urging him to get his manager Malki Kawa off of his Twitter account:

Put in those terms, it’s hard to argue with Cormier.

After all, Romero, despite being one of the most fearsome knockout artists in the UFC, has lost two of his last three fights to middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and missed weight before his last two as “DC” noted.

Insisting he’ll retire right at his 40th birthday in March, Cormier probably doesn’t have time to fight former middleweights on a down stretch, and even though it could be argued Romero deserves a shot more than Lesnar does, Cormier is also understandably looking to cash in before he rides off into the sunset.

For that reason, he’s trying to squash the Romero beef as soon as possible. We’ll see if the “Soldier of God” lets him.

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