As a longtime training partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier has a special insight into the way the Russian’s mind works.
The former heavyweight champion had dinner with the lightweight champion and his cousin, Umar, after the latter’s victory on Fight Island on Wednesday and was even on hand to offer advice.
Daniel Cormier has been a great fit on commentary
DC, a former light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion, is now a UFC commentator and analyst and has strong feelings on whether his friend can be tempted back to face McGregor in an attempt to move to 30-0.
Speaking to talkSPORT in Abu Dhabi, he said: “Conor did better than most, right? Was able to defend some takedowns, he was able to get back to his feet, he was able to stay standing the whole third round, I believe, and I think the judges may have awarded him that round, too. He did better than most.“But again, it’s going to take something very special for Khabib to say, to all the promises he made and everything else, this is what I want to do. And I don’t know if that’s what it’s going to take.
Cormier thinks a Khabib and MGregor rematch is the biggest fight UFC could do, but isn’t sure it’ll happen
“Now, if Conor looks like a world beater against Dustin, maybe he goes ‘you know what, this guy has improved and maybe… I really don’t know what his mindset is.
“I was in the restaurant, Khabib was eating fish that’s not on the menu [laughs]. He had some fish flown in and it was beautiful! But he’s just living like the champ. Talking about life and everything else. I don’t know what will make this young man do it again.“And he’s asked me, as a fan, what I think he should do and I said I don’t care. You’re good and I’ll support you either way. I believe the organisation are doing everything they need to do to get him back in there,” Cormier added.
Cormier has excelled in his commentary role since hanging up his gloves after losing to Stipe Miocic last August, but there has long been reports of DC working with WWE. As a huge wrestling fan, Cormier has held talks and is interested, but is it a case that the timing hasn’t matched up?
Khabib and Daniel Cormier reuniting in the octagon
The duo have trained at Team AKA in the past
Cormier has spoken about Khabib’s unbelievable strength when they wrestled
“I’m loving what I’m doing so much right now. I love calling fights. I love working for the UFC. This is where I want to be and this is what I enjoy.
“And I’ve talked to the guys in WWE and we’ll see what happens. Those guys are all great, the product is fantastic, it’s just a fun time to be in television.
“Because I get to do what I love and I get to watch some fantastic fights and if I got to call wrestling, I’d get to call some fun wrestling matches.
“I get to do what I love, man. I’m a lucky, lucky human being, not many people are set up in the way I am after the fight career is done.
“I’ll never make as many zeros in one time as I did before! And that’s another thing – thank you to Conor McGregor. Everything changed when he essentially changed the game on all fronts. But, I love what I do. I love it.”