Daniel Cormier has competed as a mixed martial artist for eleven years and featured in four promotions. The top-ranked heavyweight contender has fought 25 times and has come up against the biggest names at heavyweight and light heavyweight.
Most fans would assume that the Jon Jones fights were his toughest. However, ‘DC’ obliged his fans and shed light on his toughest fight apart from his wars with ‘Bones.’
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In a UFC fan Q&A session, Cormier admitted that all of his opponents were tough, one way or the other. However, he singled out long-time light heavyweight king Jon Jones and his UFC 252 opponent Stipe Miocic for praise. Later, he picked ‘The Mauler’ Alexander Gustafsson as the one fighter who pushed him to the limit.
He said, “But you know Alexander Gustafsson because on that night in Houston he took me to places I have never been. I had cruised in five-round fights outside of Jones and I was beat up, I was battered.”
“I was bruised to the point that the next morning I was laying in bed and my daughter who at the time was four walks in and goes ‘Dad what’s wrong’?”
Daniel Cormier says the Alexander Gustafsson fight may be the toughest he has ever had
Cormier reveals he walked through the airport with sunglasses and hoped that people would not see him. He concluded, “So that was probably the toughest fight I’ve ever had and even in wins and losses. That may still be the toughest fight I’ve ever had.”
The Gustafsson match marked Daniel Cormier’s maiden UFC light heavyweight defense. The Swede pushed the champion and took the fight to the judges’ scorecards. ‘DC’ claimed the win and held onto the championship, but it was the first time eighteen fights that he had been part of a split decision.
Cormier has not been part of a split decision since UFC 162 and will hang up his gloves this Saturday following his 26th professional fight. The Stipe Miocic fight will be the first time the former Olympian features in a trilogy.
Read: Can Daniel Cormier Win the Trilogy Against Stipe Miocic?
Given the competitor Cormier is, he will want his swansong to eclipse his fight against Gustafsson. This will give him the privilege of having gone out following a war.
How well do you remember the Daniel Cormier vs Alexander Gustafsson fight? Do you see it as ‘DC’s toughest to date?