After UFC 312, coach Eric Nicksick stirred up controversy when he publicly criticized his fighter, Sean Strickland, after Strickland’s loss to Dricus Du Plessis. Nicksick called the performance “uninspiring,” a remark that quickly gained attention from MMA fans. While coaches usually keep their critiques private, Nicksick’s comment sparked a conversation about the place of public feedback in coaching.
Daniel Cormier Weighs In on the Situation
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier has now shared his thoughts on the matter. In a recent video, Cormier offered his perspective, agreeing with some of Nicksick’s points, but with a few reservations about making such comments public.
“Not everyone is going to be a world champ. You don’t get to coach all world champs. You coach world champions, you coach guys that might get to the Contender Series and lose, you coach guys that might get to an LFA title, and that might be it,” Cormier said. His words highlight the reality that not every fighter will become a champion, and a coach’s role isn’t always about molding world champions.
Cormier continued to emphasize that a coach’s job isn’t limited to training future champions. “You might get a guy that comes to the UFC, has a cup of tea, 0-2, and he’s out. So, you don’t just get to coach world champions. I get the thought of what he’s saying, but not everybody gets there. Make that your goal, but I don’t know if publicly you say that. But any great coach will have words for their athlete.”
While Cormier agreed with Nicksick’s view on pushing athletes to reach their potential, he did offer a perspective on how these tough conversations should happen.
Two modern day gladiators! These are the moments that make us love MMA. Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland thank you for one hell of a fight.
Congratulations @dricusduplessis on an amazing hard fought victory! Your heart and will to win is what separates you from everyone… pic.twitter.com/0MCrygyypn
— Nina-Marie Daniele (@ninamdrama) February 9, 2025
The Role of Constructive Criticism in Coaching
Despite the public backlash over Nicksick’s remarks, Cormier defended the importance of honest feedback from coaches. “I don’t blame coach. I think any great coach needs to judge their athletes fairly, but very harsh whenever they don’t compete to the ability that you expect them to because if you don’t, who’s going to? Especially in a world where most people are saying yes,” he asserted.
Cormier pointed out that a great coach should not shy away from tough conversations, especially when a fighter falls short of expectations. “Especially in a world where most people are saying yes,” he added, noting that too often athletes hear only positive feedback instead of the constructive criticism they need to grow.
While Cormier agreed with Nicksick’s overall assessment of Strickland’s performance, he emphasized the importance of striking the right balance in how criticism is delivered. Coaches, according to Cormier, should always provide honest feedback, but it’s essential to do so in a way that builds trust and encourages growth.
