UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has parlayed a highly successful mixed martial arts career into a successful run as a member of the promotion’s broadcast team. Regularly providing color commentary with a rotating staff of peers including Michael Bisping, Paul Felder, and Joe Rogan, ‘DC’ is able to lend his expertise as a former two-division world champion to the next generation of stars.
Unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and roses as a member of the media. Particularly for those that were once competitors themselves. In a recent video posted on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, the heavyweight legend spoke about his work as a ‘media guy,’ and how some fighters can’t separate his role as a member of the media compared to the peer that fought alongside, and sometimes with them for many years inside the Octagon.
“Fighters and fighters in the media. That’s my thought. So, the way that fighters attack guys that [don’t] work in the media have to ask themselves one question: Are you attacking or talking to Daniel Cormier? Media personality Michael Bisping or the peer? Because the reality is this; the peer is what mattered to me. I never allowed for something someone in the media to dictate and really control my actions because ultimately, it didn’t really matter to me.
“What did matter was the respect and the acknowledgment of my peers. So I asked these guys when they come at me in the way that they do, are you talking to me as the peer or are you talking to me as the media personality because there’s a big difference. When you talk to me as a peer, you got to deal with the peer. You got to deal with Daniel Cormier, the fighter. I understand that Daniel Cormier, media guy, is cuddly and person, and he can hug and squeeze him right. He feels like a big squishy person.”
Daniel Cormier Reveals the Target of His Message
Continuing to speak about the difference between addressing him as a broadcaster or as the Hall of Famer that he is, Daniel Cormier began to reveal the intended target of his message.
“Underneath all that is the bear. Still the UFC champion. The Strikeforce champion and all the things I did over the course of my career. So I asked you once again when you talk to Michael Bisping, when you talk to Daniel Cormier, those retired fighters, are you addressing the peer? Are you addressing the media guy? As a media guy I am paid to do this job. We don’t have to agree with the things that I say, but ultimately I got to eat that because my words do sting at times, but I never say anything just to hurt someone.”
Daniel Cormier recently commented on Jorge Masvidal‘s call out of Leon Edwards since ‘Rocky’ had captured the UFC welterweight championship at UFC 278. Edwards and ‘Gamebred’ famously had an altercation backstage roughly three years ago that led to Masvidal throwing what he later dubbed a “three-piece and a soda.” Despite their history, a fight between the two never came to fruition. Cormier took exception to Masvidal calling out Edwards after he became a world champion instead of doing it in the three years since their backstage scuffle.
This prompted Masvidal to take to Twitter and call out the multi-time world champion.
2/2 you to promote the biggest fight the current champ can make in the division which is me, wear your best suit from DXL and make sure you do as your told like a good boy. Maybe you’ll get a treat from your master #reasonpeoplewatchonmute #fakelifecoach #brokeadvice
— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) August 24, 2022
Daniel Cormier turned his attention specifically to Masvidal, sending the Florida native a warning of sorts.
“Jorge [Masvidal] and I have been in the same circle, in the same organizations all the way back to Strikeforce and I respect them immensely, but I asked all these guys once again, who are you talking to? Because I would appreciate knowing. Do I stay in hibernation or does that big nasty bear come back to play. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”
