Year of the Fighter – Daniel Cormier

Former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier reflects on the rollercoaster year that he lost the biggest fight of his career to Jon Jones and yet miraculously went on to become a double champion, an incredible accomplishment his late father got to witness before he passed.

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Come on boy [Applause] DC that’s look really nice over there Let’s go DC there you Go Y DC when I think about what my goals were when I started mixed martial arts it was just to be the best fighter I possibly could I never could have imagined that I would become a double Champion you know in the largest fighting organization in the world so to become the UFC light

Heavyweight champion and then the simultaneous heavyweight champion was I mean it was a bigger goal than I ever could have [Applause] imagined So the UFC’s most heated rivalry finally gets its rematch Daniel Cormier defending his light heavyweight Crown against the only man to defeat him in the Octagon former champion John Bones Jones I think this is the most important fight in the history of the light heavyweight division it might also be

The most competitive matchup in the history of the light heavyweight Division and there’s so much on the line JN Jones’s Legacy DC’s Legacy before UFC 214 I I’d never felt better I mean this was the most physically fit I was I made the weight effectively everything was in

Place the the you ever seen life Heavyweight Champion Dan K felt like my mind my body my life everything felt in order official way 205 for the champion you know when I looked into his eyes at those weigh-ins I I I was thinking that

It had been a long two years since I had lost that initial fight and I was so happy to be in a position to go and try and get back the one loss that I had in my career you know I I was finally going to get an opportunity to write something

That I felt went so wrong the first time we fought as I was excited about the fight you could tell he felt the same way because you had two guys that were at the very top of their game trying to find that that that special moment that would define um our Rivalry the waight ends here for one of the most anticipated events in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship this is UFC 214 Cormier versus Jones 2 five rounds for the Undisputed UFC light heavyweight championship of the world tonight we witness the continuation of one of the greatest rivalries the sport of mixed

Martial arts has ever [Applause] seen I mean these are easily the two best light heavyweights of all time Jon Jones and white getting off early here you know he’s very aggressive Cormier in the black with gold Cormier checking the kicks very well right off the bat see if

He catches it create wrestling from the catching those kicks at all oh looked like he knocked the mouthpiece out he did I felt like we fought at such a high Pace in this fight take down for John Jones not quite no control DC right back

Up to his feet good work in control the pace smart DC looks so much more composed in this fight agreed and DC is seeing everything is what I’m noticing he caught him big punches landed by DC you know it’s a fight you know so in

A fight you give some you take some and I felt like that’s what was happening in these early rounds of this fight more than one combo DC combination starting with a kick ending with a kick mixing punches in between I mean it’s a different Daniel Cormier right now with

His combinations in this first round he’s feeling it you’ve got to be encouraged if you’re out of that red Corner listen big deep breaths listen to coaches big deep breaths good job they talking I need big deep breaths this is your round this is me your roundout but

But how do we get that roundout you see how do we get that mixing it up mix it up keep out let’s go hey stay relaxed your right baby round two forth Coming nice knee to the body by John oh beautiful left hook and a right hand over the top by DC DC just oozing confidence here this is absolutely a different Daniel Cormier in their first fight felt very prepared for this fight landed some good Strikes with a guy like this you got to stay focused you have to stay the course the entire time Jo the high kick keep working inside oh it’s a good look for the judges when you’re advancing forcing the [Applause] action beautiful work I’m going to keep calling the time keep stealing

Round think you’re up give all right here we go third round of a possible five for the UFC light heavyweight championship Cormier once again sends Jones retreating big uppercuts now DC’s getting him coming in breaking his posture got Jones grabbing for clinch and he’s hitting him stay long stay long

Stay long where’s those distractions oh John landed a high kick he’s hurt I felt like that kick was thrown to get me off of him because I was pressuring him so much and it just so happened that um I didn’t see it you know he had landed a lot of body kicks

Early in the fight and I think I anticipated body and he went to the Head DC was stunned by that head kick you know I always talk to the finishing ability of this guy Jones trying to press the issue here in big trouble that’s what surpris me was his ability

To finish fights that could be it Cormier trying to survive that is it John Jones has done it the new Undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion of the world John Ball this fight is still discouraging for me because I was fighting so well I felt like we were

Very competitive over the course of the time that Jones and I spent in the octagon with him winning that second fight in that fashion but this this was easily the worst night of my life this was before my son got to watch fights and he was at the hotel with the

Babysitter and the next morning I was laying in the bed and the first thing he did soon as the sun came up he ran over to Dad and asked if Dad won you know I could hear him asking his mother in the bed did Dad win did Dad win and uh I had

To hear her tell him no and I was just laying there crying because my biggest Fe fear was to see my kid’s face knowing that I didn’t get the job [Applause] done I try to let losses stick with me I I think the biggest mistake of Fighters and I think this is due to social media everybody wants to rush to feel better like everybody wants to go on the internet oh sorry everyone tonight wasn’t my night you know the problem

With that is your fans and the people that care for you they want you to feel better so they tell you stuff like you’re still the champ in my book and you I didn’t want to hear that so I just isolated myself and I felt sorry for

Letting the people that meant so much to me down I felt hurt that I didn’t let do what I wanted to do for my child I felt hurt that I didn’t be the guy that I wanted to be so desperately it was just all these emotions that I

Went through to try to understand how it went wrong again I mean it was honestly one of the more trying times in my entire Life Kenny floyen here alongside Daniel Cormier DC John Jones tested positive for Terina ball from a sample the day before your guys fight of course at UFC 214 in July Jones will appeal the test results in DC you fought Jones what do you make of all you cannot test positive

For performance enhancing drugs man you just can’t do it it’s unfair um I’m very upset about it the California State athletic commission has overturned the about to a no contest due to the fail test so what does this mean for you DC I I I lost I lost the fight and as a

Competitor that’s how I felt then Dana White called me today he goes you know the championship is getting returned to you uh the fight is a no contest if he cheated he could not have fought and cheated and still won the fight so uh once again I’m the UFC

Champion you know when they reinstated me as the champion it was this crazy roller coaster of emotions you know I I knew I had lost the fight and even to this day I still say I lost to fight I’m not one of those guys that makes excuses

I was in there you know I know I lost you know so I knew what I dealt with in the First Title reign terms of people saying I didn’t beat Jones When I had held that belt for two years and for two years I had people telling me that I was

Not the real Champion I mean I was like I can only imagine what I’m going to hear this time they called me about fighting I said no I said I need a year off because I I said I needed to give my brain some time to rest you know I

Wasn’t going to rush myself back in there I said I’ll come back in 2018 when January turned on 2018 I already had a fight Schedule where you I feel great I feel like I’m ready to I’ve trained hard I’ve trained smart and I’m ready to go beat this dude I mean he’s a tough guy but he’s in over his head you know I hadn’t really thought much about Vulcan I knew

He had beat uh ENT St P I think in the beginning of the year and then he knocked out Jimmy manaa guy who I really had my eyes set on in July and so right around November the UFC calls me and they go hey your next title fight is

Going to be January 20th and you’re going to fight against Vulcan Know you’re got your heels on the day no but I’m told on you anyway yeah yeah that ain’t going to help you Saturday I was playing Vulcan like a fiddle you know from uh shaking his hand uh challenging him to a push-up contest I’m feeling better than you you look like a zombie

Man pushup contest who are these leaders you guys go back to the cafeteria I would be joking around with him but when we get face to face be very confrontational with him be very in his face to try to tell him you know what’s going to happen to you

You’re not going to win don’t you look over here Vulcan you know what’s going to happen to you you know what’s going to happen vulgan keep talking man walk away but then when it was time for the fight to actually happen our last engagement it was 100% all business [Applause] Danier live from a soldout garden in Boston Massachusetts USA this is UFC 220 co-main event tonight for the UFC light heavyweight championship Daniel Cormier versus Vulcan new deir it’s Daniel Cormier a guy who’s one of the best wrestlers to ever compete in the light heavyweight division he thinks he’s

Going to use that skill set tonight and break Vulcan oir a man who’s never seen this level Vulcan oir Daniel Cormier this is a very very intriguing Matchup oir is throwing Haymakers right away I felt right away with vulin that he thought he could knock me out because he came out guns blazing the entire time the real question is going to be what does o deir look like in the third round

In the fourth round as the round went on he started to slow down and then right here is when the fight completely changed oh DC just stung him with that right hand left hook right hand one two one and then the left hook oh and that right eye problematic for

Vulcan deir you see him trying to Blink it out once his eye was marked up I knew I had him oh oh big right big right hand by DC there’s that single leg he’s going to dump and he gets it Cormier pounding on usir here late in the first

Round he’s got the neck he’s got his neck there’s the horn wow saved by the buzzer and I think at this point usir understood that this was much different than anything he had experienced to that point in his career Round Two Fellas by the second

Period I knew I knew it was over so it is bike down on the mouthpiece time for Vulcan new deir I got him backing up I know that if I take him down I can truly I’ll grapple him back to the single leg beautiful trip DC’s all over him and uh

Once I got him down here I knew it was pretty much the end of the fight domination on the ground by DC I was able to get to this crucifix and once his arm was stuck it was just punch him punch him punch him warning from the

Referee Kevin McDonald for us deir to get out of there but he can’t and that is it Daniel Cormier defends in style tonight dominant performance by Daniel Cormier and immediately I thought I’m so lucky you know and still you know Bruce bruffer says and still here but like I felt like I had

Won a vacant title and it just felt good to get my hand raised again I was supposed to be Vulcan o deir but sometimes the hardest thing to do is what’s expected and had I lost that fight man it was all over you know there

Would be nothing else you know a lot of the opportunities that I’ve received would not have come to fruition if I didn’t go into Boston on that night and win in the dominant way that I did I took a lot of pride in being the UFC light heavyweight champion and I

Fought and defended that belt with every bit of my being and I I figured after January 20th somebody was going to separate themselves and I was going to have to find find a way to fend off the next Guy anyone that knows me knows that my fight camps are long they’re tough they’re they’re draining for not only me but also my family so when I get home on Monday and Dana’s calling me to go and clach The Ultimate Fighter this isn’t necessarily a conversation I want to

Have with my wife he told me what he was going to pay me and everything and he goes I’ll see you in Vegas on Wednesday I said why you talk to my wife he goes I’ll see you in Vegas on Wednesday and yeah I was in Vegas on Wednesday gentlemen only two of you will remain undefeated and win UFC contracts the coaches reigning Champion stie miic the baddest light heavyweight champion of all time Daniel Cormier you could not ask for two better mentors when I got the opportunity to coach The Ultimate Fighter I knew that I could do

Well not only the exposure of being on the show but also taking a part in these young athletes lives I’m I’m always thinking about what I can do for the people coming behind me and I thought that being a coach on The Ultimate Fighter was the perfect opportunity for

Me to make a lasting impression on on the next generation of Fighters once we get swea and going we’ll start our 10 Rounds right just 10 Rounds I was actually when I met these kids I knew that we had picked the better team class Daniel corm is the World Champ so him and all of his coaches know their stuff and whatever

They say go that’s Joey G none of them are the same I think the key is the first moments right I really did take the Tyler diamond right away because of his work ability and also he’s a young wrestler you know he’s like he reminded me of a lot of the kids that

I coach I’m excited hey you’re fine right there Jo tag that you got it my man Joe janetti got that submission off right away I was so happy for these guys my boy that’s my boy that’s my like pure pure joy to watch them have success on

This show because you know we’re winning fights in front of 20,000 people these kids if they can just win a fight in the UFC’s octagon it means the world of them and for me to play a part in that it just felt special I thought Stipe did a pretty

Good job of coaching the whole time that we’re on The Ultimate Fighter I wanted to just beat him at everything if you can’t win any of the fights on the show if you can’t win a hockey challenge if you can’t win in so many things that are

So in your favor how are you supposed to win a fight you know I thought it would play a part in terms of who he is mentally when we competed against each other so yeah I I sized them up the entire time incredible season you too

Thank you so much all right hey Hey listen boys culture give you that warm and fuzzy feeling come July 7th Ste I don’t want to have to do it to you I didn’t want to be the one when I came to fman but I got To all right what’s up everybody thanks for coming today we appreciate it welcome to International fight week let’s get it started who’s got the first uh first question D see everyone always says that next fight is their biggest but right here right now do you think

This is the biggest one of your career yeah this the biggest fight of my career I’m fighting the most successful UFC heavyweight champion all time the baddest man on the planet so nothing I’ve done to this point is bigger than this I’ve lived in these moments since I

First started fighting it’s just another fight to me Saturday I go fight Stipe great fighter great Champion but I win again the final question for STP do you feel that you want to get him out of there early well I think everyone wants the end night early I mean that’s the

Way to go I mean who doesn’t want to get a knockout and go home early thanks for coming you guys see you [Applause] Friday I tripped over that speaker and it hurt my knee a little bit but I pretended it hurt a little bit more because I was just

Embarrassed I can’t believe I fell down in front of all those people you know you look at Dana and Dana’s like why would anyone do that this did not just happen when you get so much riding on a fight It’s upsetting but it was fine you

Know I knew that I was going to be okay to fight just needed time to Shake It Out are we still going to do a St down yeah yeah cop whenever you guys are ready to come back out we’ll be set up from right I’m ready you good

You know these faceoffs were always tough because you know how tough this guy’s going to be but I knew man I was like this is I’m set up for something really special uh tomorrow night the stars have a line for international fight week 2018 and now

The super fight of all super fights a clash of champion versus Champion miic versus Cor I could feel that this one even to the Jones fights I felt this one was the biggest thing I’ve ever been associated with never before has a UFC light heavyweight champion moved up to challenge the active heavyweight

Champion that is our reality here and now and I always talk about how nervous I am before these fights but when I’m there and I’m getting ready to compete I understand that there’s no place that I would rather stti mic on paper Joe this is the most accomplished UFC heavyweight champion

This octagon has ever seen absolutely I mean the consensus best ever really I mean you think about the guys he’s beaten what he’s done and the fact that he’s the only guy to ever defend the title three times it’s a really interesting matchup Daniel Cormier trying to leave here with a piece of

Unprecedented UFC history steti Mia chit trying to successfully defend this belt for a fourth time and then once we started fighting I was like you know I I figured I could compete with anyone but you know for all the power that he possessed it wasn’t as hard it’s exactly what I expected you

Know but he was hitable offense DC go oh big one two from cor you know I thought this combination really did change the fight a little bit it allowed me to really get off one oh look at that onew by DC yes go go Oh he heard him oh P spe to JP history UFC history when this happened this was the craziest moment of my life I just thought to myself jump on him in and finish those are my coaches Daniel Cormier is the UFC heavyweight champion look at my dad I’m my

Mom my father had never been happy and proud of me all his coaches were saying he translates well at this weight the weight he wears well he hits harder he’s knocked out everybody he’s trained with that’s what they were saying and here it is I’ve accomplished some great things

In my life but there’s never been anything quite like this as bad as I felt in July of 2017 this Trump that Undisputed USC heavyweight champion of the world this was the greatest moment of my sporting career I never understood you know like who I would become as a

Heavyweight on that night I just understood that I etch my name in stone and you know conversation for the greatest fighters to ever step in the o oh man it’s the most amazing thing ever this is crazy man things you could never dream of tell you that Much I mean look these are the ones that truly matter they’re what I fight for and my beautiful daughter my wife beautiful wife and my son my mom just big old bear hug she was so proud of me my that was crazy that was crazy thank you my

Father just the uh that was crazy that was crazy you know I uh my dad just meant the world to me you know and just glad he got to experience that You know I lost my father in August so 12 months before I gave him the greatest night of all time he got to watch his kid become a mortal and when I look back on that year from 2017 in July to 2018 I my parents had to deal with the

Lowest of lows to the highest of highs and it was tough you know they saw some bad stuff I’m happy that fast forward a year and they got to experience a high that they could never have imagine they my parents watch me at football games and wrestling matches all through high

School and college but they saw their kid you know boy that they raised with nothing all the sacrifices my dad working multiple jobs my mom cleaning houses they saw their boy that they broke their back for uh do this amazing thing and um I’m just happy

That I was able to give that to Him you know when my time is over in this sport of martial arts I want people to remember me as a guy that fought hard every time I got in there a guy that although undersized always gave it 110% and did this thing with class with

Honor and I want to be a guy that people look back on and go at every step of the way Daniel was responsible he was a role model he was a leader and he’s the type of guy that I want my kids to try and mimic in sport and hopefully in life too

And that’s truly what I want to be remembered For