Daniel Cormier recently made an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast. And the former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion shared his thoughts on his intense rivalry with Jon Jones. Fans consider the beef between the two as one of the most heated rivalries ever seen in UFC history.
Both men even got involved in an altercation at a press conference ahead of their fight at UFC 178, which was later canceled due to a leg injury sustained by Cormier in training. However, Cormier confessed in the podcast episode that he wanted to take a page out of Mike Tyson’s book during the brawl! In a startling confession to Joe Rogan, Cormier revealed what went through his mind as the melee took place!
Daniel Cormier reveals his ‘Mike Tyson’ inspiration to Joe Rogan
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones first faced each other inside the Octagon at UFC 182 in 2015. The build-up to their clash was marked by both men stating their dislike for one another. The friction between the pair led to their now infamous brawl at the MGM Grand.
In his appearance on the JRE MMA Show #150, Cormier revealed the circumstances and his thought process during the brawl. Cormier stated that the incident happened while he was still undefeated in the UFC. He stated, “he head-butted me, like put his head on me. So I push him, he’s an alpha male too so the f*ker attacks me, right, so we get into a fight.”
During the fight, a UFC security guard ended up underneath Cormier, causing them to tumble off the stage. Cormier, finding himself on his back, admitted, “I will say there was a thought to bite the motherf*ker, like what am I doing on my back, right, I’m losing, bite this son of a b*tch!”
He referenced the Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield incident as his motivation behind considering biting Jon Jones. As in the 1997 rematch between the two heavyweight boxers, Tyson bit off a part of Holyfield’s ear in one of the strangest incidents in boxing history! Tyson was later disqualified for his actions and was even stripped of his boxing license for a while afterward.
Cormier’s confession reveals the intense rivalries and reactions that combat sports are capable of generating between combatants. And in another recent statement, Cormier named the two fighters that he feels will bring another level of excitement to UFC 300!
Cormier wants the lightweight division to reach new heights
In a recent episode of the DC and RC show, Daniel Cormier suggested a strategic plan for the lightweight division. Cormier recommended booking Arman Tsarukyan against Dustin Poirier at UFC 300 in April, aligning with Poirier’s desire to compete around that time.
He stated, “Now you got a guy that just beat one of the biggest names if he can get past Poirier. If he doesn’t, Dustin Poirier has now laid claim to the title shot after Justin Gaethje. So, it really does bring some stability to this weight class.”
According to Cormier, if successful, Tsarukyan could position himself for a potential third fight later in the year, fulfilling Islam Makhachev’s wish of fighting multiple times next year. Cormier emphasized the stability and excitement this approach will bring to the 155-pound weight class.
Poirier, the former interim lightweight title holder, is coming off a loss to Justin Gaethje in their BMF title fight rematch at UFC 291. Actively seeking his next opponent, Poirier has recently expressed a preference for exciting matchups that motivate him to step into the cage again.
