UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier listed another UFC Hall of Famer above boxing legend Muhammad Ali during a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith.
Cormier appeared on the program to deliver his list of the top five greatest fighters of all time across all combat sports. Starting his list with some obvious names like Amanda Nunes and Georges St-Pierre, DC left Stephen A. Smith shocked when he revealed that Muhammad Ali was number three on his last.
“At number three, this is where you might disagree with me. Muhammad Ali. Just hear me out. At number three, the great Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali. One of the greatest boxers of all time. What he did transcended sports, but here’s the difference: He was a pillar of our community. He did so many things outside of the boxing ring and I think at times, that is why we elevate him to the greatest boxer of all time.”
Immediately following his announcement of Muhammad Ali as number three, Cormier revealed that number two is none other than former UFC lightweight champion, and good friend of DC, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“At number two, we go to 29-0. ‘The Eagle’ of Dagestan, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Guess what Stephen A? For all that Muhammad Ali… And I’m not putting him on the same level. Khabib could have defended that belt for as long as he wanted. He beat Conor McGregor. You were in the building. You saw the energy. The way he beat Conor McGregor was second-to-none.”
Daniel Cormier Breaks Down the Rest of His List, Including Number 1
Daniel Cormier continued to break down his list of the top five greatest fighters of all time, including the reveal of the man he ranks as the number one greatest across all combat sports.
“At number five, we’re gonna start with the GOAT, Amanda Nunes. The greatest female fighter of all time. Featherweight champion. Bantamweight champion. Defended both titles. Has made other women look very average and she’s beaten Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm. All the best female fighters of all time.
“At number four, I have Georges St-Pierre. The great Georges St-Pierre. Champion at welterweight. One of the greatest UFC champions of all time. Middleweight champion. Won that belt in Madison Square Garden by coming back after years off and beating Michael Bisping to become a champion a weight class above his own.”
With Cormier controversially picking Muhammad Ali at number three followed by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the number two spot, DC revealed his number one pick for the greatest fighter of all time.
“And at number one, we just gotta go to Las Vegas. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. At 49-0, this guy is the greatest fighter of all time. The greatest boxer of all time. Greatest promoter. Everyone’s talking, Well, he beat Canelo when Canelo wasn’t ready.’ It doesn’t matter when he beat him. He beat him and every time someone stepped in against Floyd Mayweather, they got beat.”
Do you agree with Daniel Cormier’s list of the top five greatest fighters of all time?
