Even though Daniel Cormier has retired from fighting, he is still involved in controversies.
Recently, Cormier addressed comments made by Nate Diaz on his YouTube channel. Diaz had suggested a possible return at UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, but Cormier expressed reservations about Diaz headlining the event, stating that there are other fighters more deserving of the opportunity. Diaz, in turn, posted a critical response to Cormier on Thursday.
“This guy doesn’t know what fighting is. That’s a nice story, DC.”
Cormier felt compelled to reply to Diaz’s comments.
“To be clear, I hold no ill will towards Nate Diaz,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “I don’t have a personal issue with Nate. I’ve always admired his performance inside the octagon.
“There are many ways to criticize someone, but resorting to name-calling is unnecessary. I don’t understand why people think it’s acceptable to disrespect others in that manner. It’s not respectful. You should treat people with decency and respect.”
This recent response from Cormier comes after addressing a comment made by Jon Jones earlier in the week, which led to his reaction towards Diaz. Cormier was not pleased with Jones’ comments but understood the context considering their history in the sport.
“When I spoke about Jones, I was light-heartedly jesting. Jones can speak for himself ‘when I was in the game,'” Cormier explained. “But now, Jones is critical of himself, and that’s fine. We had the opportunity to face off in the octagon, which I respect. However, during my fighting days, there were many encounters between Jones and me outside the Octagon.
“It’s perplexing to me that since my retirement, there’s been an increase in criticism and attacks compared to when I was active. I had the means to respond then. The exchange between Jones and me was a difference of opinion; he spoke about himself, and I spoke about my own experiences, and then we had a dialogue. I refrained from engaging in a verbal feud because that’s not my style.”
Cormier expressed his disappointment with Diaz’s remarks about his fighting career. Cormier, a two-division UFC champion and a Fighter of the Year in 2018, highlighted his successful career compared to Diaz, who has had fewer accomplishments in the octagon.
“It’s unfair to say I’m not a fighter,” Cormier rebutted. “I believe my assessment of him was fair. Nate Diaz had his moments and fought for a championship. But if I’m not a fighter, what does that make him? He questioned my fighting ability, but I have consistently faced top-tier competitors. Can you say I’m not a fighter just because I expressed my opinion about his potential headline fight?”
“There was a conversation with Khabib [Nurmagomedov] when Nate’s multiple losses were mentioned. How can one lose to so many opponents? With instances like that, how can you question my fighting spirit? I have continuously competed against elite athletes. We operate on different levels, and our fighting careers are on different paths. We’re not comparable. We’re simply not in the same league. It’s time to stop unwarranted attacks while I carry out my duties.”
Cormier emphasized that he does not seek conflict with Diaz and suggested Diaz direct his attention towards Jorge Masvidal, who is eager for a fight. Cormier urged Diaz to show respect and offered a chance to discuss any issues openly.
“I bear no animosity towards Nate Diaz,” Cormier asserts. “He may have a bone to pick with me. I live close to Stockton in Gilroy. I am not looking for a fight. If Diaz disagrees with my comments, we can have a civilized conversation. But I won’t tolerate disrespectful behavior. Let’s handle this maturely without resorting to negativity. Extend respect, receive respect.”
