Daniel Cormier’s send-off from MMA is inching closer to reality, and his excitement level is cranking up as the details start to get sorted.
Although discussions have somewhat hit a standstill due to the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic, Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) said his conversations with the UFC about a trilogy bout with heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic have him very excited about the event.
“I know we’re in a crazy time right with the world and the way things are, and it’s very up in the air,” Cormier said Friday on Instagram Live. “But I think for me with the way things are going and the discussions we had heading into all this, the way that the discussions and the terms of the fight was going, man, where I am going to fight this guy, for my last fight, it’s going to be as ideal for me as I could’ve ever hoped for. It’s going to be beautiful.”
The former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion did not delve into further details about where his retirement fight will take place. Two possible locations could be San Francisco, Calif., which is not far from where Cormier lives and trains in San Jose, or New Orleans, which is in Cormier’s home state.
One further hint Cormier did offer, though, is that another UFC champion could join him on the card. The Instagram Live chat was hosted by current welterweight king Kamaru Usman (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC), who is in negotiations to defend his title against Jorge Masvidal this year.
According to Cormier, the stars appear to be aligning for the two anticipated title fights to share a date.
“I think the way things are falling, you and I may be spending more time together than most people,” Cormier said to Usman. “Obviously we can’t say a day and time yet, but it’s looking like you and I shall, and will, be spending a party together.”
Whether the details flesh out as Cormier sees them cannot be determined until contracts are signed. However, what “DC” can say with certainty is that the third fight with Miocic will be his last dance. Cormier turned 41 on Friday, and he said that’s only reaffirmed his thoughts on retirement.
“I got one,” Cormier said. “Some guy asked me today, ‘You going to keep fighting?’ I said, ‘No, I got one.’ Some of these guys are very young. I don’t have to fight a young guy. Miocic is about to be 38 years old. I got to fight one old guy one more time. That’s it. I ain’t fighting no 27-year-old dude.”
Daniel Cormier: Location for Stipe Miocic trilogy 'ideal,' hints Kamaru Usman will share card