Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC 252: Cormier wants to exit as a champ

Leigh Nald Cabildo

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UFC 252: Cormier wants to exit as a champ

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 14: (L-R) Opponents Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier face off during the UFC 252 weigh-in at UFC APEX on August 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Zuffa LLC

In his last fight inside the octagon, Daniel Cormier hopes his stint as one of the greatest fighters of all time ends with a UFC belt on his waist

As he reaches the end of his career, Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier wants to join the group of elite athletes who retired with a gold in their hands.

The former two-division UFC champion (22-2, 1NC) will try to hang his gloves with a belt on his waist as he faces reigning heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (19-3) for the third time in UFC 252 on Saturday, August 15 (Sunday, August 16, Manila time) at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 40-year-old fighter out of San Jose, California is determined to reclaim his title in his last fight inside the cage.

“I think [winning a title before retiring] puts you alongside the greatest sports athletes of all time,” Cormier said in a press conference. 

“Michael Jordan won with the Bulls when they beat the Jazz, unfortunately he came back. Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl in his last season.

“It would put me in that type of sphere with some of the greatest athletes to ever compete across any other sport. If I win on Saturday, I will retire that way.”

Unlike other world champions, Cormier assured that his retirement will be for good.

“Before, when they call me 5 weeks and I’m 243 pounds… I can get to 205 [on fight night], that doesn’t happen anymore,” he said. “I need 13-14 weeks [now], and the way that I felt during this training camp, I understand that you just can’t extend [your career].”

“Today and on Saturday, I’m the best in the world. But what if I’m not after Saturday? Great champions always have one good night and then they tempt fate. I’m not willing to do that.”

‘It would suck’

Cormier is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time as he raked in wins over superstars such as Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, and Derrick Lewis.

In UFC 226, DC officially became a two-division champion – light heavyweight and heavyweight – as he knocked out Miocic in the opening round.

The former champion said his first win over  Miocic in 2018 is a “highlight” of his decorated career.

“UFC 226 is absolutely the highlight of my career because of everything that it entailed,” Cormier said. “Not only was it another championship win, but it was beating a guy like Stipe.”

“The way that I did it and to become a double UFC champion was truly amazing,” he added.

“I had accomplishments since I was a young kid, but that was the biggest one and that will be only topped on Saturday night.”

In their second matchup, Cormier ended on the other side of a knockout as he went to sleep in the 4th round against Miocic.

DC admitted that his rival got the best of him as his back injury took its toll. But Cormier assured that he’s in better shape when they clash for the third time.

“I’m not a guy that generally fatigues as I did, granted it was a high pace fight and he landed great shots, but I got tired. This time I’ve been able to train effectively,” he said. 

“[Miocic] won the fight, he took the damage and he did what he had to do. But I feel much better today than I did last year. “

“It would suck to know that there will be two guys in my career that’s just better than me and I had multiple chances to beat them and I didn’t get it done.”

The Cormier-Miocic trilogy will highlight the main card of UFC 252 which will start at 10 am (10 pm ET) while the preliminary card will start at 8 am (8 pm ET). – Rappler.com

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