Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier suffered a unanimous decision loss to UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 252, a fight that turned out to be Cormier's last.
Cormier returned to the “Helwani & DC Show” today and the fighter confirmed that he is retired.
“I’m not going to fight anymore,” Cormier said (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “I was talking to Joe Rogan after the fight, and I told him my interest is fighting for championships, and I can’t imagine with a loss that I’d be fighting for a belt again. I lost two fights in a row for the first time in my career. You’ve got to understand when it’s time, and the reality is part of the reason I got hit with that right hand by Stipe is because I’m older. You can’t fight father time. At 41 years old, I fought the heavyweight champion of the world three rounds to two with the idea that I wanted to win. I didn’t go in there trying to give a good account of myself. I wanted to win the fight and I still believe I can beat Stipe Miocic. But every day that passes, it doesn’t work in my favor.”
DC, who’s professional MMA career began in September of 2009, retires with a record of 22-3-0-1NC.
One thing Cormier didn’t do after the loss was leave his gloves in the Octagon. DC says there is a good reason for that.
“I lost the fight, that’s Stipe’s moment,” Cormier said. “He’s the champ. Why would I do that? Because a guy like me retires in the octagon there, that’s what people talk about. In the standing in the world, there’s a difference between Stipe and I. If I’m in there and I take my gloves off, it’s almost like stealing his thunder. I wasn’t going to do that. He won the fight.”
The retired professional MMA fighter will still be a part of the UFC as a color commentator, no word has been given yet as to when he’ll return to the commentary desk.
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