Daniel Cormier Admits Retirement Will be “Hardest Thing I Have to Do”

Since Daniel Cormier has pushed his retirement plans before, not everyone is certain that “DC” will hang up the gloves in 2020. Especially, according to the argument, if he beats Stipe Miocic and reclaims the heavyweight crown.

But, as summer approaches, the legend continues to insist that he will not be fighting in 2021.

Cormier says retirement will be “the hardest thing”

For a long time, Cormier repeatedly said that he was not going to fight into his forties. But, since he’s had to deal with some injuries in recent years, and wasn’t able to fight as much, “DC” pushed his retirement date. 

Since Cormier lost his rematch to Stipe Miocic last August, “DC” has said that he intends to have a rubber match with the heavyweight champ, and then retire. Cormier’s said this, despite others, like White, noting that the star remains a top-tier fighter and could continue to compete for longer if he wished.

Especially if he reclaims the heavyweight belt. If that were to happen, then calls for Jon Jones to move up to heavyweight to face his rival would spike again.

As would calls for Cormier to face heavyweight contenders like say, Francis Ngannou. 

Well, recently the decorated wrestler spoke with MMA Fighting. While doing so, Cormier admitted that retiring will be extremely hard, but that he will be doing so.

“I believe I can [walk away],” Cormier said. “It will be the hardest thing I’ll have to do but I believe I can and I think it will make everybody pretty happy in terms of my household, my wife and my kids. As much as they love watching me compete, the chance to see me go out on top would be a fairy tale. I believe I can.

“I’m probably one of the most competitive people you’ve ever met and that’s always going to tug at me. But I will have to put that focus to something else. I’ll have to work on my craft in front of the television in order to make up for that.”

Yup. Seeing Cormier walk away with the heavyweight belt would be an amazing way for him to close out his career. Typically, we see greats hang up the gloves after defeats.

Georges St-Pierre is an example of the opposite; where he eventually wrapped up his career, having won the middleweight crown (assuming he stays retired).

Will Miocic – Cormier III happen in time?

So, while it certainly looks like Cormier isn’t wavering from his plan to face Miocic again, and retire, will the fight happen?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC’s summer schedule is up in the air, and Cormier has said he will be retiring by winter, trilogy fight or not.