VIDEO | Daniel Cormier is Only Fighting Three More Times Before He Retires

After a dominant performance against Volkan Oezdemir, Daniel Cormier let everyone know that they wouldn’t see him too much longer. March 20th next year, Cormier will turn 40-years old and has decided to retire. Of course, as we all know, minds can always change especially when it comes to MMA retirements, but it seems like the current UFC light heavyweight champion is serious. He opened up more about his intentions today and would like to have three fights before he finally walks away from the sport.

“I’ve got a little break in my thumb and also some ligament damage. I don’t like to do surgery, so I’m going to try and put off the surgery. […] If it’s starting to heal, I’m not going to do the surgery, I’m going to some PRP (Platelet-rich plasma). I prefer to not go under the knife. I would rather just always try to do the alternative so as not to have too much time off. There was a break in there and also a torn ligament in my wrist, so that’s why I was having so many issues after the fight. It just takes longer. I want to try to not have surgery. […] I don’t really have the time to waste.”

It was great having @dc_mma in-studio to help cohost today! We talked #UFC216, Anthony Johnson and more.

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“If everything goes great, six to eight weeks would be the injury time. That would be two months out, then a two month training camp would be ike four months. More realistic time frame for another fight would be sometime in the Summer. Maybe July, international fight week, somewhere in that time frame. That would also give me some time to rest and recover from the fight. [It’s just been] a long, hard year and also I want to have time for my injured to heal. That would give me time to maybe fight again before the end of the year, then maybe sneak in another one in around February or March. I could get three [fights] in before I’m done.” — Daniel Cormier speaking on MMA Junkie Radio.

Obviously, Daniel Cormier are going to be looking for the absolute biggest fights possible. Dana White and the FS1 crew were hyping up a possible trip back up to heavyweight to challenge Stipe Miocic in a champ versus champ superfight, but Cormier has been quick to dismiss it due to the supposed return of his teammate and former belt holder Cain Velasquez. With Jon Jones‘ future also up in the air, there is a countdown to the end of Cormier’s storied career and two potentially giant opponents not available. Everyone will be putting their matchmaking hats on as the months pass by.

1/23/2018.