Daniel Cormier Preps For ‘Sad’ Possibility of Islam Makhachev’s Imminent Competition Retirement

Daniel Cormier is very "sad" about Javier Mendez's retirement timeline for Islam Makhachev, ahead of 170-pound title shot.

Daniel Cormier Preps For ‘Sad’ Possibility of Islam Makhachev’s Imminent Competition Retirement

Daniel Cormier prepping for ‘sad’ possibility of Islam Makhachev hanging it up (Source: X)

Although he is relinquishing his UFC 155-pound gold, longtime champ Islam Makhachev has touted a majestic momentum and win streak. Based on which, he is to challenge the new 170-pound champ Jack Della Maddalena for gold, sometime later this year. However, close friend and training partner Daniel Cormier thinks Makhachev’s UFC competition days are numbered and packed in after such a title bout.

In light of hard and heavy ducking claims, training mate Umar Nurmagomedov revealed that UFC Execs pushed out Islam Makhachev in favor of another former champ as a big draw. Coach Javier Mendez later seconded that notion; saying he’s anticipating a few more dominant title fights left for Makhachev.

During a chat on his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier laid into that possibility for Makhachev — 33 at the moment — and already the promotion’s No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound, that he could hang it up soon.

Islam Makhachev might have three fights, including Jack Della Maddalena, ...That right there is where our energy should be spent as Islam fans. How in the world does it feel like another dominant champion may be saying it's about time? Why? He's young, he's the world champ, he's dominating, getting the opportunity to become a double champ. Why? I think we're in a time right now, in fighting, that for me as a fan is very sad. I don't believe for a second though that it's going to change. But when they all start to walk away, it's sad for the fan.
Daniel “DC” Cormier on his YT Channel

Makhachev has had the highest number of lightweight title wins [5] on a 15-fight streak and defended the strap 4 times. But Daniel Cormier dreads the protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov might tout a similarly stout rigor and never look back if he decides to really hang it up. Which would be bad since Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria, a former and current P4P king showdown vs. Kamaru Usman, and all such possibilities remain unbanked.

Another aspect of DC’s purview is that champs are drearily choosing to hang it up early; case in point would be two-time rival, highly disputed UFC undisputed HW Jon Jones.

Challenger Islam Makhachev doesn’t have a Return Date

The ‘Islam Makhachev’ option has always been more than a bit enticing. Given that he holds the Pound-for-pound number one title, the Dagestani has an array of options to choose from. However, Jack Della Maddalena is the name Makhachev has in mind.

Islam Makhachev not returning to Down Under in PPV title bout
Islam Makhachev not returning to Down Under in PPV title bout (Source: X)

Welterweight Ian Machado Garry and formerly surging contender Joaquin Buckley packed it in so that they’d have a Makhachev fight in their legacy and run. Usman thinks a potential run against the Dagestani will have blockbuster Pay-per-view implications and live gate outputs. Safe to say he is always a good option and a proper skills test.

Makhachev, the promotion’s #1 P4P fighter, outlands 60.3 percent of his significant and used to absorbs 1.51 per minute — best rate in UFC 155-pound competition. Hence, even JDM has wanted this challenge to stretch out his standup and has even touted that this would be easier on the feet than it was against Belal Muhammad.

For a while, Aussie bloke Della Maddalena’s teases meant that he was having a maiden defense of his new 170-pound belt in Down Under. But that seems unrealistically untrue, and Islam Makhahcev doesn’t have a return date!

UFC recently announced its imminent return to Perth, Australia, though the go-to bout between “JDM” and Makhachev may not be held there, as it is unlikely to be included in the pay-per-view (PPV) lineup. Following a month of the Aussie card is UFC’s annual big pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev is usually projected for an October return for an Abu Dhabi card, and it could be true this year too, but the date and finer details are still murky.

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