Cormier Will Go Out like Jordan, Manning

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier wants to be remembered for his success (and dominance) in mixed martial arts (MMA) the same way Michael Jordan is remembered for his contributions to basketball.

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The means to that end is a victory over reigning 265-pound kingpin Stipe Miocic in the UFC 252 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, scheduled for five grueling rounds this Sat. night (Aug. 15, 2020) inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“In mixed martial arts, it can put you right alongside the greatest sports athletes of all time,” Cormier said during the UFC 252 pre-fight press conference. “Michael Jordan won with the Bulls when they beat the Jazz. Unfortunately he came back; I won’t come back. Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl in his last season. It would put me in that type of sphere with the greatest athletes that have ever competed across any sport. So, when I win on Saturday, I will retire in that way.”

A victory over Miocic would leave the 41 year-old Cormier with a 23-2 record (1 NC), which includes a previous light heavyweight championship reign, as well as a Strikeforce Grand Prix title to complement his success as an amateur wrestler.

Not too shabby.

It would also allow “DC” to be judged primarily on his merits as a heavyweight gladiator, since the entire reason he went down to 205 pounds was to avoid his friend and teammate, Cain Velasquez, who eventually faded away after years of battling injuries.

For much more on Cormier’s quest to be the greatest in history click here.