Daniel Cormier is currently the light heavyweight champion of the UFC and one of the greatest 205-pound fighters the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has ever seen.
Cormier has wins over names such as Roy Nelson, Frank Mir, Alexander Gustaffson, Volkan Oezdemir, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, and so many more. He is regarded as the second-best light heavyweight of all time, right behind Jon Jones who he has lost to twice in his historic career.
At nearly 40-years-old Cormier is still dominating some of the young and hungry contenders in the weight class, leaving many to wonder how much longer he will be able to keep it up. It seems that Cormier has an answer for that question.
Joining The MMA Hour earlier today (Mon. January 22, 2018) Cormier announced that after March 20, 2019 he will no longer be fighting as a mixed martial artist (quotes via MMA Fighting):
“Come March, I will have 12 months, at max, left,” Cormier said Monday on The MMA hour. “I’m going to be done by March 20, 2019. I won’t be fighting again.
“I’m done, I’m going to done at 40,” Cormier said. “I won’t be back. There won’t be jumping around or ‘I’m done until I get the right type of fight.’
"It’ll be over. I’m not going to be doing this anymore. I’ve said time and time again that I’ve lived a great life in sports, I’ve loved every moment of it. My family has revolved around sports. Not only my family, Selena and the kids, but also my mom and my dad.
"I’ve been the center of the athletic universe for my family for a really, really long time, and it’s time for that to be little Daniel and Marquita.
"It’s time for them to be the center of our athletic competition, and I just want to be one of those crazy dads that gets to yell on the sideline and just go crazy and brag about his kids. Like, ‘Yeah, my kid won this tournament, my kid won this gymnastics competition.’
"That stuff excites me, man. I’ve always wanted that, and I’ve had my time. Since I was 15 years old, I’ve been wrestling international competitions and going to the Olympics and the NCAA championships, and fighting in Strikeforce, UFC, so I’ve had my time.
"I’ve lived a lifetime in the spotlight. It’s okay, I can be done with it when I’m 40 years old.”
What are your thoughts on Cormier saying that he doesn't plan on fighting past March 20th of the year 2019? Do you think that a third fight between he and Jon Jones will ever happen? And is there anyone else in the light heavyweight division that can dethrone Cormier other than Jones? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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