Daniel Cormier Reveals The Reality of American Wrestling While Highlighting The Lack of American Champions in Recent Years

UFC legend Daniel Cormier reveals how American wrestlers prefer to avoid MMA competition due to better opportunities in coaching.

Daniel Cormier Reveals The Reality of American Wrestling While Highlighting The Lack of American Champions in Recent Years

Daniel Cormier talks about American wrestling (via MSN)

Daniel Cormier remains one of the most decorated wrestlers in UFC history. Before becoming a two-division champion, he captained the American Olympic wrestling team at the 2008 Beijing Games. However, in recent years, there have been fewer American UFC champions as the company has expanded. DC recently weighed in on whether the lack of elite wrestlers entering MMA has contributed to that trend.

Cormier’s credentials make him uniquely qualified to discuss American wrestling in MMA. A two-time Olympian, he represented the United States at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, won bronze at the 2007 World Championships, and captained the 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. Today, the UFC Hall of Famer runs the Daniel Cormier Wrestling Academy in Gilroy, California, helping develop young wrestlers.

In recent years, American champions have become increasingly rare in the UFC as international talent has taken over the title picture. Fighters from the Caucasus region have played a major role in that shift, particularly after Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s dominant lightweight reign. Addressing the trend, Cormier recently weighed in on why many elite American wrestlers are choosing not to pursue MMA careers.

We might’ve done so much to grow the sport everywhere else that the American wrestler isn’t as available right now. There are RTCs in wrestling where guys are making a little more money. How many times did I go right when I should’ve gone left? Now it is $200,000 a year to coach. And most wrestlers think $200,000 is a lot of money, especially living in those small towns like Stillwater, Happy Valley, Raleigh. It’s a lot of money. So the American wrestler isn’t as open to fighting as we need him to be.

Daniel Cormier via Y’ALL STREET podcast

Cormier recently expanded on that belief while outlining his plan to bring more American wrestlers into MMA. Drawing from his experience around champions such as Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, he argued that wrestlers remain the foundation of championship success in the UFC. DC maintained that increasing the pipeline of American wrestlers into MMA is key to producing more future champions.

Islam Makhachev recently shared his own theory on the decline of American champions. The Dagestani UFC welterweight champion argued that the UFC’s increased recruitment of fighters from Dagestan and neighboring regions has shifted the balance of power. Makhachev also suggested that fighters from his region enter competition with greater discipline and a stronger sense of responsibility.

However, American fighters have recently enjoyed championship success. Sean Strickland captured the middleweight title at UFC 328, while Justin Gaethje won the lightweight belt at UFC Freedom 250. Notably, both champions are known primarily for their striking backgrounds. Even so, Daniel Cormier believes elite wrestlers remain key to producing more American champions in the future.

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Daniel Cormier reveals how the weather may have influenced Justin Gaethje’s win at UFC Freedom 250

Justin Gaethje delivered a stunning upset at UFC Freedom 250, defeating Ilia Topuria for the lightweight title on the White House lawn. Entering the fight as a +400 underdog, Gaethje handed Topuria the first loss of his career and ended his unbeaten 17-0 run. The American outlanded Topuria 199-173 in total strikes before forcing a fourth-round corner stoppage to complete one of the biggest wins of his career.

Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier (via Bloody Elbow)

UFC Freedom 250 presented unique challenges because it was held outdoors on the White House lawn. Hot, humid conditions and the threat of rain created concerns about how competitors would perform. Despite that, the fighters adapted remarkably well, leading Daniel Cormier to later weigh in on how the environment may have played a role in Gaethje’s title-winning performance.

When we were talking about this thing and we were building this thing, I told (Jon) Anik and (Joe) Rogan, ‘I believe that a setting can propel people to great things’. I’m not the type of person that does not think that the environment can play a part in the result of a fight. Tonight, I feel like that happened. Justin Gaethje always is a dog, but I think when you start to couple everything together, the birthday of the United States of America, the White House South Lawn, fighting an undefeated champion, it all worked perfectly.

Daniel Cormier via MMA Junkie

Cormier and Gaethje have shared a strong relationship for years, with the former champion often praising the lightweight star’s toughness and fighting style. Their mutual respect has remained evident throughout Justin Gaethje’s UFC career. With ‘The Highlight’ now atop the lightweight division, Daniel Cormier’s assessment adds further significance to one of the biggest wins of his longtime friend’s career.

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