Daniel Cormier could also be retired from combating, however he retains discovering himself in beefs nonetheless.
Earlier this week, Cormier went on his YouTube channel and responded to the thought floated by Nate Diaz that Diaz would come again to headline UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Cormier wasn’t eager on the thought, saying that whereas Diaz may very well be on the cardboard, he believes that different fighters are extra deserving of the primary occasion. Unsurprisingly, Diaz didn’t take kindly to that, posting his rebuttal to Cormier on Thursday.
“This b**** is just not a fighter. Exact opposite. Good discuss DC.”
And so, in fact, Cormier needed to reply.
“First off, I’ve no drawback with Nate Diaz,” Cormier mentioned on his YouTube channel. “I’ve no problem. I don’t actually know Nate. I’ve all the time revered Nate for what he did contained in the octagon.
“I’m a number of issues, guys, however one factor I’m not is no person’s b****. I’m not a b****. So my query is that this: When did it grow to be OK for males to start out calling one another exterior their title like that? When did that grow to be OK? I don’t disrespect no person in my evaluation of them. I attempt my greatest to be as truthful as I can. I don’t fairly perceive why individuals assume it’s OK to assault you in that manner, particularly calling you exterior your title like that. It’s not cool, man. You don’t get to only discuss to individuals any manner you need.”
That is the second assault this week that Cormier has felt the necessity to tackle. The UFC Corridor of Famer went on his YouTube channel on Tuesday to defend himself from jokes Jon Jones made at his expense, which then in the end led to his feedback about Diaz. And whereas Cormier wasn’t an enormous fan of Jones’ feedback, he says that these had been nonetheless acceptable as a result of the 2 of them really had the possibility to combat one another.
“After I was speaking about Jones the opposite day, I used to be laughing, I used to be joking, however I’m going to let you know one factor about Jones and me and the best way that I’m perceived on the planet at present: Jones talked his s*** after I was combating,” Cormier mentioned. “Jones talks his s*** at present, that’s cool. I respect that as a result of we had the chance to enter the octagon and settle our stuff. That’s why although, Jones and I had interactions exterior of the octagon on so many events, as a result of I used to be nonetheless combating.
“It’s very odd to me that in my retirement I’ve extra beefs and extra individuals coming at me than even after I was lively. After I might do one thing about all of the disrespect. As a result of proper now I’m measured. … Any interactions between he and I used to be an altercation, as a result of he was speaking his stuff, I used to be speaking my stuff so then we’d come collectively and attempt to combat one another. As a result of that’s what occurs once you begin calling males exterior their title like that.
“I knew that after I mentioned one thing about that man, there was a risk that there could be a response. I don’t have the power to have these reactions proper now. So it appears reckless that so many might be so disrespectful within the strategy. I don’t get that. However I’m no person’s b****.”
Apart from the name-calling, Cormier was additionally clearly upset with Diaz diminishing his profession. Cormier is one in every of solely 9 two-division champions in UFC historical past, was the 2018 Fighter of the Yr, and was inducted within the UFC Corridor of Fame in 2022. In distinction, Diaz solely fought for a title as soon as, shedding to Benson Henderson, and has a 16-11 report within the UFC, which Cormier famous made his feedback appears a bit ridiculous.
“To say I’m not a fighter — I don’t get it,” Cormier mentioned. “Once more, I really feel like really, I used to be fairly truthful to this dude. As a result of once you actually give it some thought, to say I’m not a fighter, once you actually give it some thought — Nate Diaz was enjoyable, Nate Diaz acquired a championship alternative. But when I’m not a fighter, what’s that make him? What does that make him? If I did what I did and he did what he did, what’s that make him?
“One time I used to be speaking to Khabib [Nurmagomedov] when Nate was coming at Khabib, and Khabib mentioned one thing to the impact of, ‘This man has misplaced 12 or 13 fights in his profession. Daniel, I can’t reply to this man. I can’t take this man critical as a result of who loses to that many individuals?’ How will you name me not a fighter when you have got had these cases? What did I do? I fought the very best. I fought the very best on the planet consistently. So to say I’m not a fighter as a result of I’ve an opinion on whether or not or not I need to see him headline The Sphere?
“The fact is, one factor we is not going to do is evaluate myself to Nate Diaz, as a result of it’s completely different ranges. A lot completely different. I’m a champion. Two weight lessons. I misplaced thrice in my profession. 4 should you rely the combat that was known as a no-contest. 4 occasions, two guys. We’re on a lot completely different wave lengths, we’re on a lot completely different planets. We’re not in the identical stratosphere by way of fighters. We’re not. And it’s time for me to cease permitting individuals to assault or come at me in these methods after I’m doing my job.”
Cormier reiterated a number of occasions that he’s not out right here making an attempt to combat Diaz, as an alternative suggesting Diaz focus his vitality on Jorge Masvidal, who’s actively making an attempt to combat him. Cormier merely desires Diaz to place some respect on his title, and ended by providing an open door coverage for speaking issues out.
“I don’t have an issue with Nate Diaz,” Cormier mentioned. “I don’t. He clearly has an issue with me. Gilroy is an hour and a half away from Stockton. I dwell right here. I’m not making an attempt to combat. I’m not going to be up there combating this man within the streets, however we are able to all the time have a dialog when you’ve got an issue with one thing I mentioned. However to name me out by title like that … I fought the very best. I very not often had alternatives to combat guys that weren’t on my stage. I can solely think about what my report could be if I did.
“So to wrap it up, Nate, right here’s the deal — I don’t have an issue with you. If I see you, I’ll tip my hat to you. If you wish to say one thing to me, come as much as me. Inform me. Inform me what the difficulty is. We will focus on it like males. However I don’t actually play all that b**** and different stuff. So lay off that. Lay off that and I’ll lay off you.”
