Daniel Cormier calls Islam Makhachev crazy for saying he'd beat Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs in wrestling
Daniel Cormier has lightheartedly asserted that Islam Makhachev has "lost his mind" as the UFC lightweight champion believes he can defeat Jordan Burroughs in a wrestling match. Makhachev is fresh off a lightweight title-winning performance at UFC 280 on October 22. The 31-year-old from Dagestan, Russia, defeated Charles Oliveira via second-round submission.
Meanwhile, Jordan Burroughs is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers ever. The 34-year-old American is a freestyle wrestling Olympic gold medalist, a four-time U.S. Open national champion, a three-time Pan American Games gold medalist, a four-time Pan American champion, and a six-time world champion.
Taking to his YouTube channel, former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier alluded to Islam Makhachev's interview with him in October 2021. It featured Makhachev telling 'DC' that he could beat Burroughs in a wrestling match. Burroughs responded by daring Makhachev to "prove it."
Prove it.
@MAKHACHEVMMA twitter.com/SpinninBackfis…
Cormier indicated that Islam Makhachev still believes he can outwrestle Burroughs. A longtime teammate of Makhachev's at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), 'DC' opined that the Dagestan native is an outstanding wrestler but would still lose to Burroughs and other Olympic-caliber wrestlers.
He insinuated that he's often warned Makhachev and the other Dagestani grapplers at AKA that they can't outwrestle Olympic wrestlers such as Burroughs:
"That guy [Makhachev] is so hard to take down once you get to his legs, almost at a point that he almost invites you. And now, he's lost his mind when he says, 'Bring Jordan Burroughs and all those guys.' Because those guys would tear him apart. I don't care how good he is at wrestling in MMA, Islam ain't beating Jordan Burroughs. And I tell these guys that all the time."
Cormier continued:
"This [Makhachev] guy is a good wrestler, and this guy is on his way to becoming a very dominant [UFC lightweight] champion. The Islam Makhachev era is upon us now, guys. Strap in."
Watch Cormier discuss the topic at 5:28 in the video below:
Islam Makhachev aims to dethrone the UFC's pound-for-pound king in 2023
Presently, the consensus is that reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will defend his title against the UFC's No.1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 on February 12, 2023.
In the aftermath of UFC 280, both Makhachev and Volkanovski verbally agreed to fight one another next.
Moreover, UFC president Dana White hinted that the fight could materialize. The bout contracts, however, are yet to be signed. Many believe that Makhachev boasts a significant size advantage over 'The Great' and would overwhelm him with his grappling.
It's believed that Makhachev could become the UFC's new No.1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in 2023 if he beats Volkanovski in their potential superfight.