Daniel Cormier shares a different take on Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement from MMA coaching
Daniel Cormier has known Khabib Nurmagomedov since 'The Eagle' first walked through the doors of the American Kickboxing Academy in 2012, the same gym where Cormier has trained since 2009.
The two have forged a close friendship, which is why 'DC' was able to provide a nuanced perspective on Nurmagomedov's announcement that he would be leaving MMA entirely. 'The Eagle' retired from fighting in 2020, but decided to take up the role as co-head coach of AKA alongside Javier Mendez.
Having only stepped into a coaching role recently, the Dagestani's decision to retire from MMA completely sent shockwaves throughout the community. But, during a recent episode of the DC & RC show, Cormier shared the heartfelt reason behind Khabib’s decision.
Daniel Cormier said the following:
"I think about the time spent with family and how important it is... I think Khabib's there. I think he's at a point in his life where he doesn't want to miss the important moment."
"Certain moments take you away from the important moments [with family]. And Khabib is a family guy that is not willing to give that away anymore. So he wants to spend more time with his children."
Watch the video below from 11:15:
Khabib Nurmagomedov's decision to retire from fighting in 2020 stemmed from the passing of his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. 'The Eagle' promised his mother that he wouldn't compete without his father, a small indication of the significant role that his family plays in Khabib's life.
Daniel Cormier states Alexander Volkanovski beating Islam Makhachev would be the biggest upset in MMA
Daniel Cormier's teammate Islam Makhachev is set to face Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 284 on February 12, 2023. 'The Great' is moving up to lightweight to attempt to claim a second UFC belt. Makhachev, on the other hand, is eager to overtake Volkanovski as the #1 ranked P4P fighter in the UFC.
Many believe that Makhachev's size and grappling superiority will be too much for 'The Great' to handle, and the UFC lightweight champion is currently a -320 favorite ahead of their clash.
Cormier, who has trained with Makhachev at AKA for many years, recently broke down the matchup on his YouTube channel. 'DC' boldly claimed that should Volkanovski defeat Makhachev, it would be the biggest upset in MMA history.
Daniel Cormier said this:
"In my opinion, if Volkanovski wins this fight, it's the biggest [upset of all time]. It's bigger than anything we've seen. Because when you get into the details of this matchup, it's very hard match for Volkanovski to win."
Watch the video below from 2:50: