Daniel Cormier - trash talks and Quotes
Daniel Cormier – Talking Style Analysis
“I Guess If He Wins Both Fights, There Is No Rivalry”
UFC 214. Anaheim, California. July 29, 2017.
Daniel Cormier just got knocked out by Jon Jones in Round 3 with a head kick. He’s concussed, devastated, sitting on a stool in the Octagon.
Joe Rogan asks how he feels.
Through tears and visible confusion, Cormier says:
“I guess if he wins both fights, there is no rivalry.”
The crowd goes silent. Rogan looks uncomfortable. Cormier’s face shows complete emotional collapse — not from physical pain but from the realization that his greatest demon remains undefeated.
That moment captured everything about Daniel Cormier’s communication style.
Where Jon Jones toggles between personas and McGregor crafts theater, Cormier operates from raw emotional honesty — wearing his heart on his sleeve even when it makes him vulnerable.
He’s the champion who admitted to feeling like he has an asterisk next to his name because he never beat Jones.
He’s the fighter who broke down crying on live television after losing.
He’s the competitor who publicly battled with his weight, his legacy insecurities, and the pressure of being “second best” to someone he genuinely despised.
That authenticity creates a unique psychological dynamic: opponents know exactly how to hurt him emotionally because he tells them.
But it also makes him relatable in ways other champions aren’t — because everyone understands what it’s like to give everything and still come up short against someone they can’t stand.
The Emotional Competitor System
Vulnerability as Identity, Not Strategy
Most fighters hide insecurity. Cormier broadcasts it openly, then uses it as fuel.
At the UFC 214 press conference in Anaheim, when discussing his need to beat Jones:
“This isn’t just a fight. This is for my legacy. I need to beat this man to prove that I am who I say I am. Without beating Jon Jones, there’s always going to be an asterisk next to my name.”
That level of admission is rare.
He wasn’t creating false pressure for promotional purposes. He genuinely believed his championship meant less without beating Jones.
That honesty gave Jones the exact pressure point to attack — and Jones exploited it mercilessly:
“You can have the belt, you can have the commentary job, you can have the fans — but you will never beat me. I am your master.”
But Cormier’s vulnerability also made him sympathetic.
When he lost and cried, people didn’t mock him — they felt for him because he’d been so honest about what the fight meant.
Competitive Fire Without Calculation
Cormier’s verbal exchanges come from genuine emotion rather than promotional strategy.
At the MGM Grand media day (August 2014), when Jones put his forehead against Cormier’s face, Cormier shoved him by the throat.
The brawl that followed — both fighters falling off the stage, throwing punches — wasn’t performance.
It was real hatred spilling over in public.
Later, Cormier tweeted:
“I won’t let another man get in my face and put his forehead against mine. I will react every time.”
That admission — that he’d react emotionally every time — gave Jones a blueprint for how to control him.
The “hot mic” incident on ESPN showed this pattern again.
Thinking cameras were off, Cormier and Jones had a chilling exchange:
Jones: “Hey pussy, are you still there?”
Cormier: “You are the fucking scum of the earth. You are a terrible human being.”
Jones: “I wish they would let me next door so I could spit in your fucking face.”
Cormier: “You think I’m just going to sit there and let you kill me, Jon?”
That wasn’t calculated trash talk. That was two people who genuinely couldn’t stand each other, forgetting they were still being recorded.
Cormier’s inability to hide his emotions made him authentic — but it also made him predictable.
Legacy Obsession Spoken Aloud
Where other fighters pretend records don’t matter, Cormier openly chased greatness.
Before fighting Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in Las Vegas (July 2018):
“I’ve long talked about legacy. To go up and beat the greatest heavyweight in UFC history while I still have the 205-pound belt? No one has ever done that. If I win this, you can’t talk about the greatest of all time without mentioning Daniel Cormier in the first sentence.”
That framing added pressure to himself unnecessarily.
If he won, he validated his own prediction. If he lost, he proved he was overreaching.
But that’s how Cormier operated — saying exactly what he wanted, creating public stakes, then fighting to prove himself right.
Against Derrick Lewis at UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden (November 2018), when Lewis joked about the “Popeyes chicken” dispute, Cormier responded with genuine annoyance:
“I hate that! That sucks so bad that Popeye’s did that for him. I’m the one who brought them to the MMA world!”
Most champions wouldn’t care about a fried chicken sponsorship. Cormier cared because it felt like losing in the public narrative — even over something trivial.
That competitive obsession extended to everything, making him emotionally invested in ways opponents could exploit.
How Opponents Respond
The Perfect Counter (Jones)
Jon Jones represents Cormier’s ultimate psychological nightmare — someone who understood exactly how to use Cormier’s emotional honesty against him.
At UFC 182 in Las Vegas (January 2015), Jones beat Cormier at wrestling despite Cormier being an Olympic wrestler.
Then did a crotch chop at him as the final bell rang.
The post-fight quote was pure cruelty:
“I don’t like Daniel Cormier. I don’t respect him. I hope he’s crying in the back right now.”
That level of disrespect only worked because Cormier had been so open about what beating Jones would mean.
Jones turned Cormier’s vulnerability into a weapon.
The second fight at UFC 214 showed the same pattern — Cormier admitted needing the win for his legacy, Jones knocked him out, then tested positive for steroids and turned it into a No Contest.
Cormier got the belt back but never got the emotional closure.
Respectful Rivals (Miocic)
Against Stipe Miocic, the dynamic shifted completely.
Both men were “good guys” — firefighter versus Olympian, respectful champions without the poison.
At UFC 226 in Las Vegas, the trash talk was minimal:
Miocic: “He’s a great champion. But this is my division.”
Cormier: “Stipe is a great guy, he’s a hero. But in that Octagon, he’s just a guy standing in the way of history.”
Cormier knocked Miocic out in Round 1, becoming the second simultaneous two-division champion.
The rematch at UFC 241 in Anaheim (August 2019) showed the danger of Cormier’s emotional investment.
After dominating early rounds, he was winning comfortably — on his way to cementing his legacy.
But Miocic adjusted, targeting the body relentlessly.
When the finish came in Round 4, a devastated Cormier admitted:
“He made a great adjustment. I didn’t feel the body shots at first, but then they started to sink in.”
That honesty — acknowledging exactly what went wrong — showed Cormier’s pattern even in defeat.
He couldn’t hide behind excuses.
Fan Favorites Who Don’t Threaten Him (Lewis)
Against Derrick Lewis at UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden, Cormier faced someone who matched his relatability but not his skill.
Lewis was fresh off his viral “my balls was hot” moment and Popeyes sponsorship.
Cormier’s response mixed humor with genuine competitiveness:
“If you only have a puncher’s chance, it’s not enough against me. I’m going to take him down, and he’s going to realize there are levels to this.”
The technical gap was massive — Cormier submitted Lewis in Round 2.
But even against a clear skill mismatch, Cormier still felt the need to lecture about “levels” and being a “martial artist” versus just a puncher.
That inability to just relax and enjoy dominance showed his constant need to prove legitimacy.
Key Insight: Cormier’s emotional honesty makes him the most relatable champion — but it also gives opponents a roadmap to break him psychologically.
Effect Inside the Fight
Cormier’s communication style creates opponents who know exactly what psychological pressure points to target.
But it also creates a fighter who performs with maximum emotional investment.
Opponents Target His Insecurities
Jones knew Cormier felt like “second best” — so he literally called himself Cormier’s “master.”
That word choice was surgical, designed to hit the deepest insecurity.
And it worked.
Cormier fought emotionally in both Jones fights, trying to prove he belonged rather than executing game plans calmly.
The Emotional Fuel Cuts Both Ways
Against Miocic at UFC 226, Cormier’s legacy obsession pushed him to a perfect performance — knocking out the heavyweight GOAT in Round 1.
But against the same opponent at UFC 241, that same obsession created pressure when he was winning.
Instead of coasting through championship rounds, he kept pressing, kept trying to prove dominance.
That emotional urgency left him open to Miocic’s body shot adjustment.
Notable Performance Correlations
- vs. Jon Jones (UFC 182, January 2015) The Las Vegas rivalry exploded at the MGM Grand media day brawl (August 2014) when Jones pressed his forehead against Cormier and DC shoved him by the throat. The “hot mic” ESPN incident revealed genuine hatred: “You think I’m just going to sit there and let you kill me, Jon?” At UFC 182, Jones out-wrestled the Olympic wrestler and did a crotch chop at the bell. Post-fight: “I hope he’s crying in the back right now.”
- vs. Jon Jones 2 (UFC 214, July 2017) The Anaheim press conference featured the “crackhead with a suit on” exchange. Cormier admitted: “Without beating Jon Jones, there’s always going to be an asterisk next to my name.” Jones knocked him out with a head kick at 3:01 of Round 3. Cormier’s emotional post-fight interview became iconic: “I guess if he wins both fights, there is no rivalry.” Result overturned to No Contest after Jones tested positive for Turinabol.
- vs. Stipe Miocic (UFC 226, July 2018) The Las Vegas buildup featured Cormier’s “double champ” legacy talk and Miocic’s quiet confidence as “the baddest man on the planet.” Cormier famously tripped over a speaker at the press conference. He knocked Miocic out at 4:31 of Round 1 with a perfectly timed right hook, becoming the second simultaneous two-division champion. Post-fight chaos: Brock Lesnar entered the cage and shoved Cormier.
- vs. Derrick Lewis (UFC 230, November 2018) The Madison Square Garden card featured the viral “Popeyes chicken” beef after Lewis got a free chicken sponsorship. Cormier: “I hate that! I’m the one who brought them to the MMA world!” Despite the humor, DC lectured about “puncher’s chance not being enough” and submitted Lewis via rear-naked choke at 2:14 of Round 2 — becoming the first fighter to successfully defend titles in two weight classes simultaneously.
- vs. Stipe Miocic 2 (UFC 241, August 2019) The Anaheim rematch featured Miocic’s “quiet fury” after a year away versus Cormier’s championship confidence. DC dominated early rounds, even lifting the 240-pound Miocic and slamming him. But Miocic adjusted in Round 4, targeting the body relentlessly before finishing via TKO at 4:09. Devastated Cormier: “He made a great adjustment. I didn’t feel the body shots at first, but then they started to sink in.”
The Relatability Paradox
The most fascinating aspect of Cormier’s communication is that it makes him the most human champion in MMA history.
Where Jon Jones hides behind personas and GSP maintains professional distance, Cormier just talks like a regular person chasing greatness.
He admits to insecurities. He cries when he loses. He gets genuinely annoyed about fried chicken sponsorships.
That authenticity creates massive fanbase loyalty — because everyone understands struggling against someone you can’t stand, or feeling like you’re not quite good enough despite doing everything right.
The Popeyes moment, the tears after losses, the honest admission about needing to beat Jones for his legacy — these aren’t calculated for sympathy.
They’re just Cormier being himself.
And that realness makes people root for him even when he loses.
But it also makes him vulnerable in ways calculated fighters aren’t.
Strategic Conclusion
Cormier’s talking style works by removing the filter between thoughts and words.
Most fighters craft messages for psychological advantage. Cormier just says what he feels, creating emotional honesty that builds connection but exposes vulnerability.
The system works like this:
Cormier admits genuine insecurity or goal → opponent identifies exact pressure point → Cormier fights with maximum emotional investment → if he wins, the emotional honesty feels validated → if he loses, the vulnerability becomes public heartbreak → but either way, he remains relatable because he never hides his humanity.
His talk doesn’t win fights. His Olympic wrestling and championship experience do that.
But the talk creates emotional stakes that make every fight feel personal — to him and to audiences.
And in combat sports, being emotionally invested makes victories sweeter and defeats more devastating.
Cormier experienced both extremes publicly, never hiding either.
Daniel Cormier – Mental Warfare Profile
“Cormier proves that vulnerability can coexist with championship-level performance. He admits insecurities publicly, cries after losses, and obsesses over legacy — giving opponents exact pressure points to target. But that emotional honesty makes him the most relatable champion in MMA history. Everyone understands what it’s like to give everything and still fall short to someone they can’t stand.”
Daniel Cormier's Statements About Other Fighters
“What’s bigger, Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou or Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones? I think Francis vs. Jon Jones is the bigger fight because there was a long history there. They were supposed to fight”
– via his YouTube channel, weighing in on the hypothetical scramble if Francis Ngannou were to return to the UFC as a free agent
“What’s bigger, Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou or Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones? I think Francis vs. Jon Jones is the bigger fight because there was a long history there. They were supposed to fight”
– via his YouTube channel, weighing in on the hypothetical scramble if Francis Ngannou were to return to the UFC as a free agent
“Now, can Sean defend Kamaru... I mean, Khamzat, to the point that he doesn't get written out and just taken down and controlled for 25 minutes? I don't know that. But if that guy that showed up tonight shows up in that fight, it will be much more a difficult fight”
– analyzing the fallout of UFC Houston and the brewing grudge match between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland.
“My dog back home!!!!!!! Welcome home champ!!!!”
– via X, celebrating the release of his longtime AKA teammate and friend Cain Velasquez
“It’s very easy to tell if you’re being recorded with Meta glasses. How could he have missed that? I think he wanted people to know he’s injured... That was the video that made me believe that Jon Jones doesn't have anything left.”
– via his YouTube channel (Daniel Cormier TV), skeptically breaking down the viral "leak" of Jon Jones admitting to severe arthritis
“Dustin Poirier and I are both from Lafayette, Louisiana. Conor called Dustin a hillbilly. I said, 'But if Dustin is a hillbilly, then I'm from the same place as him. What does that make me?' He said, 'You're a ghetto hillbilly.' I wanted to slap him”
– via Paramount UFC’s YouTube channel, recalling a particularly personal moment of trash talk from Conor McGregor.
“Justin Gaethje is my friend. I'm going to tell him, don't do that with Ilia Topuria, man. You can't do that with him. He hits so hard.”
– via the NightCap podcast (and Daniel Cormier TV), issuing a stark warning to the interim champion about the danger of trading shots with Ilia Topuria.
“Nobody wants to fight Movsar [Evloev], nobody wants to fight Lerone [Murphy]. Volk is like, well, if they’re next, that’s who I’m fighting... He’s the greatest featherweight of all time”
– via his YouTube channel, reacting to Alexander Volkanovski’s masterful title defense at UFC 325 and officially crowning him the divisional GOAT.
“Lord knows what's going on with Movsar Evloev. There's one guy getting done worse than freaking Arman Tsarukyan; it is Movsar Evloev. He hasn't even gotten any type of traction towards a championship fight”
– via Daniel Cormier TV, venting his frustration over the undefeated featherweight being passed over for a title shot
“You guys are better fighters. The smaller guys are better all around. If you had all of your skill and I took the best heavyweight with all his skill and put you both at 180 pounds, you’d wipe him out”
– via his YouTube channel, offering high praise to Alexander Volkanovski and the lower weight classes following the champion's historic performance at UFC 325.
“It was almost like he understood the assignment. We are on Paramount, this is a new platform. There're gonna be new fans, we need to introduce them to what the UFC is”
– via his YouTube channel, praising Justin Gaethje for delivering a "perfect" performance in the promotion's historic debut on Paramount+
“I'd box his face up. Wrestling? 10—0. Bro, I am an Olympian. We're gonna get in a wrestling stance and wrestle with shoes on? 10 — 0 all day”
– via The Ariel Helwani Show (January 13, 2026), responding to the prospect of a high—stakes wrestling match against his career—long rival, Jon Jones.
“I believe [Gable Steveson] has a real chance to be a world champion... I do think there are some factors that could slow him down. His coach is Jon Jones. As long as he lets the other coaches coach him, yes. But if Jon is actually coaching him, I don’t know… I don’t even think Gable is ever going to fall into that trap of making those mistakes”
– via The Ariel Helwani Show (January 14, 2026), weighing in on the future of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson and his high profile partnership with Jon Jones.
“I believe [Gable Steveson] has a real chance to be a world champion... I do think there are some factors that could slow him down. His coach is Jon Jones. As long as he lets the other coaches coach him, yes. But if Jon is actually coaching him, I don’t know… I don’t even think Gable is ever going to fall into that trap of making those mistakes”
– via The Ariel Helwani Show (January 14, 2026), weighing in on the future of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson and his high profile partnership with Jon Jones.
“I'm not going to voluntarily be around him. Why would I want that?... We spoke negatively about each other's families. We had a nasty, nasty situation. He cheated constantly. I don't have to let him off the hook or be his friend”
– via The Ariel Helwani Show (January 14, 2026), shutting down the idea of a reconciliation with Jon Jones
“Jones and I argued about fighting each other in a boxing match, which I agreed to do. And the one that caught fire the most was the wrestling thing... Regardless of the respect for the fighting ability, there’s a desire to compete against each other in something... Do something to make us be on the opposite side of the line, to where Jon and I compete our fight.”
– via Daniel Cormier TV and Red Corner MMA, revealing that his private discussions with Jon Jones while filming ALF Reality in Thailand have evolved from verbal sparring into legitimate talks about a cross—sport competition.
“Stay tuned, because if he steps on that line, I’m taking this dude 10—0, like I said. For the rest of my life, there’s going to be a desire to compete with Jon Jones, and I’m okay with that”
– via Daniel Cormier TV, predicting a dominant shutout victory over Jon Jones if they ever meet in a pure freestyle wrestling match.
“Usman is one of the greatest welterweights of all time. I think also for people that are trying to dismiss Kamaru, because people are trying to dismiss Kamaru as a threat – remember how he fought Khamzat. Khamzat has destroyed just about everybody, and if it was a five—round fight, many felt Kamaru Usman had the opportunity to beat him. That was up a weight class”
– via Red Corner MMA, warning fans and analysts not to underestimate Kamaru Usman in a potential superfight against the new double champion, Islam Makhachev
“It’s so satisfying. All I want is for him to be better than I ever was. All you want for your brothers is to do better than you. I want every record I ever held at American Kickboxing Academy to belong to someone else by the time I’m done and gone”
– via his Fighters Advice YouTube series, reflecting on Islam Makhachev’s historic achievement of becoming a two—division champion.
“I don’t know what conversations that they are having behind closed doors are because they’re telling him something that’s making him okay with it, right? Because if he wasn’t okay with it he would be more loud about him not getting his opportunity. So I kinda defer to ‘they know more than we do’ and we got to accept it for what it is”
– via Red Corner MMA speculating that Arman Tsarukyan has received private assurances from the UFC that have kept him from revolting over his recent title "snub."
“Paddy Pimblett is awesome, Justin Gaethje is awesome, Arman and Ilia seem to have something in terms of not only skills, but between the two that we could build a great fight around”
– via Red Corner MMA acknowledging the star power of the interim title fight while insisting that Ilia Topuria vs. Arman Tsarukyan is the most significant competitive matchup in the division
“Paddy Pimblett is awesome, Justin Gaethje is awesome, Arman and Ilia seem to have something in terms of not only skills, but between the two that we could build a great fight around”
– via Red Corner MMA acknowledging the star power of the interim title fight while insisting that Ilia Topuria vs. Arman Tsarukyan is the most significant competitive matchup in the division
“Being around Jon Jones is different because we had such a bad history. But, the reality is, I'm done fighting now. That part of it's gone, so it's not nearly as nasty... Obviously, we argue a lot, but that's just the status of our relationship. But I think that we've gotten to a point in our lives where we can be in the same area without trying to fight each other”
– via Red Corner MMA reflecting on the surprising thawing of his decade—long feud with Jon Jones
“They changed his parole date. His first parole hearing is in February 2026, so keep your fingers crossed. Pray for the champ and hope that he gets out because the reality is he’s no danger to society. When he was home he was just helping the next generation of AKA athletes”
– via X expressing hope for the release of his longtime teammate and friend, Cain Velasquez
“Real American Freestyle is gonna see me and Jon Jones at some point, and I’m gonna kick his a**, like you would never believe. Because guess what? I still shoot, I still train wrestlers every single day, so I don’t have a problem shooting”
– via Funky and the Champ Show issuing a bold challenge to his greatest rival for a showdown on the wrestling mat.
“Khabib deserves more credit for what he did for that team and in that area. I don't think people give him enough credit for what he means to that region of fighting. He really has changed the course of an entire country.”
– via the Weighing In podcast, discussing the cultural and athletic legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I don't think that Yoel's going to beat him because Bo just wrestled and he's young. But boy, Yoel Romero is going to make it hard for him, especially after what I saw the other day. Yoel Romero's wrestling like he still wrestles international. He's good, man. He was always a freak. Now he's like unbelievable”
– via The Daniel Cormier Show, reacting to Yoel Romero's recent "steamrolling" performance and his upcoming title fight against Bo Nickal.
“I’d wrestle the right guy. I’d wrestle Jon Jones... [But] No... I’m not wrestling Yoel Romero, bro. I wouldn’t wrestle Yoel. He’s still good, man! He’s like insanely good. I’m not wrestling with him. I’d wrestle like a Jon Jones or somebody”
– via his YouTube channel discussing a potential return to the mats for Real American Freestyle (RAF).
“I’d wrestle the right guy. I’d wrestle Jon Jones... [But] No... I’m not wrestling Yoel Romero, bro. I wouldn’t wrestle Yoel. He’s still good, man! He’s like insanely good. I’m not wrestling with him. I’d wrestle like a Jon Jones or somebody”
– via his YouTube channel discussing a potential return to the mats for Real American Freestyle (RAF).
“Luke's going to get beat, bro... He's going to get beat bad, bro. Get beat 10—0. I love Luke to death, but he's going to get beat. He can't wrestle Colby Covington. A lot of the things that made Luke have good wrestling in MMA scores points in wrestling. Every time he tries to chest wrap, if he doesn't get him through right away, they'll be scoring four points for Colby.”
– via The Daniel Cormier Show offering a grim prediction for his teammate Luke Rockhold ahead of his wrestling match against Colby Covington.
“Luke's going to get beat, bro... He's going to get beat bad, bro. Get beat 10—0. I love Luke to death, but he's going to get beat. He can't wrestle Colby Covington. A lot of the things that made Luke have good wrestling in MMA scores points in wrestling. Every time he tries to chest wrap, if he doesn't get him through right away, they'll be scoring four points for Colby.”
– via The Daniel Cormier Show offering a grim prediction for his teammate Luke Rockhold ahead of his wrestling match against Colby Covington.
“I don't think that Yoel's going to beat him because Bo just wrestled and he's young. But boy, Yoel Romero is going to make it hard for him, especially after what I saw the other day. Yoel Romero's wrestling like he still wrestles international. He's good, man. He was always a freak. Now he's like unbelievable”
– via The Daniel Cormier Show, reacting to Yoel Romero's recent "steamrolling" performance and his upcoming title fight against Bo Nickal.
“Listen man, this guy just might be the best lightweight in the world, since Islam is gone. He is really good man. He is big, he is strong, he is physical. The champion Ilia Topuria is tremendous... I think they need a fight at some point. Paddy Pimblett is awesome, Justin Gaethje is awesome, [but] Arman and Ilia seem to have something, and not only something in terms of skill, but between the two, we can build a great fight around.”
– via Red Corner MMA, making the case for a fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria.
“Listen man, this guy just might be the best lightweight in the world, since Islam is gone. He is really good man. He is big, he is strong, he is physical. The champion Ilia Topuria is tremendous... I think they need a fight at some point. Paddy Pimblett is awesome, Justin Gaethje is awesome, [but] Arman and Ilia seem to have something, and not only something in terms of skill, but between the two, we can build a great fight around.”
– via Red Corner MMA, making the case for a fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria.
“Cain Velasquez's parole date was moved to February of next year. Let's pray that the champ gets to come home and start his life anew after everything he's been through.”
– via his YouTube channel, sharing a major update on his longtime friend and teammate.
“I don't have anxiety about not training to fight. I miss the time i spent with my friends in the gym like Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Josh Thomson, and Jon Fitch. I miss the camaraderie of being in the gym with my friends”
– via Warrior Code International's YouTube channel, revealing that the thing he misses most about fighting is not the training or the competition, but the camaraderie and time spent in the gym with friends like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
“I don't have anxiety about not training to fight. I miss the time i spent with my friends in the gym like Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Josh Thomson, and Jon Fitch. I miss the camaraderie of being in the gym with my friends”
– via Warrior Code International's YouTube channel, revealing that the thing he misses most about fighting is not the training or the competition, but the camaraderie and time spent in the gym with friends like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
“There was a leniency for how much time you could spend away and still hold on to the championship... I don't believe that's the case today... It feels like Ilia Topuria is telling us, without saying it directly that it's gonna be a bit longer... So honestly, there might come a time where a decision has to be made”
– via ESPN MMA expressing concern over Ilia Topuria's rumored extended time away from competition
“That's kinda crazy. It's demetrious johnson... Take that back, man. It's demetrious johnson.”
– via his YouTube channel, strongly disagreeing with Joshua Van and arguing that Demetrious Johnson remains the flyweight GOAT.
“That's kinda crazy. It's demetrious johnson... Take that back, man. It's demetrious johnson.”
– via his YouTube channel, strongly disagreeing with Joshua Van and arguing that Demetrious Johnson remains the flyweight GOAT.
“Why is Jon Jones not with his family on Thanksgiving holiday?”
– mocks Jones's trip to Chechnya during Thanksgiving
“You're so crazy, but you can say whatever you want. You're the best in the world champ. Great job. We're all so proud of you! #doublechamp”
– responding to Islam Makhachev's joke
“Shavkat Rakhmonov is the guy that I think about and I go, 'man, that is a crazy fight to think about'... That would easily be the hardest fight of (Islam Makhachev's) career”
– via Good Guy/Bad Guy, expressing his belief that Shavkat Rakhmonov poses the toughest challenge for Islam Makhachev.
“Shavkat Rakhmonov is the guy that I think about and I go, 'man, that is a crazy fight to think about'... That would easily be the hardest fight of (Islam Makhachev's) career”
– via Good Guy/Bad Guy, expressing his belief that Shavkat Rakhmonov poses the toughest challenge for Islam Makhachev.
“Islam, you better set the tone of this fight. You cannot sit back and wait for Jack to determine where and how the fight takes place. You gotta push him against the octagon side and get him on his back foot. If you get him on his back foot, it will open takedowns, and it will also open your striking and chip away at the confidence that Jack is carrying into this fight after the Belal fight”
– Daniel Cormier advice for Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 322
“It's Jailton [Almeida)]... It's safe... I can literally fight Jailton and then go and call the next fight”
– via the UFC 322 WeighIn Show, on which current fighter he would choose to face if he made a comeback.
“I don't care what Anthony Joshua did to Francis Ngannou. If Jake Paul gets in there with Francis, Francis will knock his head off this planet. You don't want those Francis problems... Even if Jake got power, I don't think he's got the power to deal with Francis... If Jake actually fights Francis, I'll do nothing but give him credit...You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes. The stupid prize will be fighting Francis Ngannou. I don't care what money Jake Paul would make; he shouldn't be fighting Francis Ngannou... Stay away from Francis Ngannou”
– warned Jake Paul about a potential fight with Francis Ngannou.
“The rematch got a lot harder for Ciryl Gane, regardless of if Tom respected him this time. Because now, Tom Aspinall is going to know what Ciryl Gane can do and has felt him. He felt the speed, felt the athleticism”
– via Good Guy/Bad Guy YT Channel
“I was literally trying to tell him you could possibly be on the verge of something tremendously special right now... [In that statement], I was saying Jailton's going to grapple you. It's not as dangerous a fight. I could have done a better job of saying that to Tom. Now I was a little upset that Tom and them released that, if I'm being honest with you. I thought when you lean into someone and you're talking quietly, that's a private conversation that should stay between [us]. I thought it was Embedded, and I know that Embedded would never do something like that.”
– reacted with disappointment after discovering Tom Aspinall shared their private exchange.
“If (the UFC) go to São Paulo and he does a retirement ceremony again where he goes and puts his gloves down, I’m throwing something at my TV”
– via ESPN MMA