Ali Akbar Rosady
Former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) titleholder and Hall of Famer, Daniel Cormier, has issued a comprehensive and scathing response to recent criticisms leveled against him by veteran fighter Nate Diaz. While Cormier asserted that he harbors no personal animosity towards Diaz, he made it clear that he would not stand idly by when his professional integrity and career achievements were disparaged.
The dispute ignited following Diaz’s appearance on Theo Von’s podcast, "This Past Weekend," where the Stockton native launched a verbal assault on Cormier’s role as a color commentator and analyst. Diaz accused the UFC legend of being a "f*cking bitter little bitch who’s analyzing fights," suggesting that Cormier’s commentary stemmed from jealousy over Diaz’s superior financial earnings during his career. In a detailed rebuttal posted on his YouTube channel, DC_MMA, Cormier systematically dismantled Diaz’s claims, emphasizing his decorated career and the qualifications that underpin his current position in mixed martial arts broadcasting.
Cormier, a former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion, highlighted his championship credentials as the foundation of his analytical expertise. "Nate Diaz, I think is reacting to what I said about him and Mike Perry’s fight and saying that I was excited about it because I know exactly what it is," Cormier stated, addressing the catalyst for Diaz’s remarks. He elaborated on the nature of his commentary role: "He said we pretend to know everything when in reality we don’t, I don’t know everything. I don’t know everything about fighting but what my job is to try to educate people who may not be as close to it as I am in terms of what fighting looks like inside of the octagon." Cormier stressed that his analysis delves into the nuanced details of fighting, offering insights that may not be immediately apparent to casual observers. "We all think that we watch it and we all think we know what we’re doing when in reality, there is some details inside of fighting that is just known at a different level. That’s it. That’s my job. That’s my job to do," he affirmed.
The former Olympic wrestler also noted that Diaz’s disdain for analytical commentary appears to extend beyond just him, encompassing other prominent former fighters who have transitioned to analyst roles. "Nate clearly doesn’t like when we do that job. I’m talking me, Dominick Cruz, Michael Bisping, Paul Felder, all these different people," Cormier observed, identifying a pattern in Diaz’s criticism of the more technical aspects of fight breakdown.
Related News :
- UFC Qatar: Contender Showdowns Set to Shape Future Divisional Landscapes
- Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski Prepares for Rematch Against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 in Australia.
- Mairon Santos Seeks Redemption and Ranking Ascent Against Muhammad Naimov at UFC 323
- UFC 320: Ankalaev and Pereira Prepare for Highly Anticipated Light Heavyweight Championship Rematch in Las Vegas
- College Football’s Bottom Tier: Winless Minutemen Lead Struggle as Regular Season Nears Conclusion
However, Cormier’s response quickly escalated beyond a mere defense of his broadcasting duties, evolving into a direct comparison of their respective fighting careers. While Diaz has cultivated a significant cult following and achieved mainstream stardom, particularly after his two high-profile bouts against Conor McGregor in 2016, his career has largely been defined by fan appeal rather than championship accolades. Cormier, by contrast, forged a career built on elite-level competition and title acquisition, culminating in his status as a rare two-division UFC champion.
"Let’s do that for a second. Let’s compare us," Cormier challenged Diaz. He then proceeded to list his own losses, identifying only two opponents: Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Both Jones, a long-reigning light heavyweight champion, and Miocic, widely considered the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, represent the pinnacle of mixed martial arts competition. Cormier’s professional MMA record stands at 22 wins, 3 losses, and 1 No Contest. He held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from 2015 to 2018 and the UFC Heavyweight Championship from 2018 to 2019, successfully defending both belts.
In stark contrast, Cormier meticulously enumerated Diaz’s career defeats, naming 13 distinct opponents: Koji Oishi, Hermes Franca, Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Gray Maynard, Rory MacDonald, Benson Henderson, Josh Thomson, Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and Leon Edwards. Diaz’s professional record currently stands at 21 wins and 13 losses, with his most significant career achievement arguably being his victory in The Ultimate Fighter 5 lightweight tournament in 2007.
Cormier underscored the statistical disparity, noting the timing of these losses. "This is mine. This is who I lost to – two people. I, in my life, I’m telling you for me, it’s hard for me to fathom losing to 13 people in the sport that you chose and when I lost those fights, I was in my mid-to-late 30s and two dudes were able to get me," Cormier explained. "You lost to 13 people. You were losing fights in your 20s. You were in your absolute athletic prime, in the sport that you chose, and you got beat multiple times by all these people. I was being respectful." He continued, "But you lost to 13 people. In the sport that you chose! That to me is crazy! I said yesterday that’s impossible. Somebody corrected me and said, no it’s not impossible. You can lose that many times."
Cormier further contended that Diaz’s "unhinged diatribe" against him displayed a lack of self-awareness regarding his own career trajectory. "You’re up here acting like you’re mad because somebody is talking about how you’re average," Cormier asserted. "The reality is you’re average. You’ve always been. But you made a lot of money. That’s good! But you’re average. You can talk all you want now but it will never change the fact that you cannot go back in time, we can’t go back in time and make you better than you were."
He also criticized Diaz for what he perceived as consistently "punching above his head" by calling out fighters with championship pedigrees. "So you keep punching above your head. You punch at Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. Not the same. Khabib should have never paid attention to you. You were never going to get there. You punch at Justin Gaethje. You punch at my man Dustin Poirier. You’re punching above your head. All these dudes had titles. Let it go," Cormier advised, referring to former UFC champions and interim champions who have consistently operated at the highest echelons of their respective divisions.
Diaz’s criticisms extended to Cormier’s fighting ability, claiming he "can’t fight for shit" and branding him a "fcking big old pssy" for crying after his knockout loss to Jon Jones at UFC 214. Cormier, however, provided crucial context to this specific defeat. The result of that bout was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for turinabol, a banned substance. Cormier used this emotional response as a point of contrast, suggesting it reflected his deep commitment to winning.
"Nate, maybe you should have cried more and then maybe we would think you care about winning and losing," Cormier retorted. "Maybe if you cried, Nathan, you wouldn’t be so OK with losing. Because I cried because losing to me was like death. That’s why I cried." He contrasted this with Diaz’s post-fight demeanor: "You don’t cry. You go to the afterparty, you go hang out with your friends. You get beat on a Saturday, on Monday you’re talking again like you’re the best in the world. Maybe if you cried, we would think that you cared and winning and losing really mattered because I’m telling you, it doesn’t feel like it when it comes to you." Cormier implied that Diaz’s perceived indifference to losses undermined his competitive credibility.
Addressing Diaz’s claim of superior financial earnings, Cormier dismissed it as a "lowest form of insult," particularly given that both fighters have amassed significant wealth through their careers. "I believe that the lowest form of insult is when you have one guy that is doing really well insult the other guy that’s doing really well by saying ‘I’ve made more money than you,’" Cormier stated. "Because at what point does having money, mean you just have money? Seriously."
Cormier acknowledged the unique circumstances that boosted Diaz’s earnings. "I made the most money in my biggest fights. I fought Jon Jones and that’s where I made the most money. Nate Diaz fought Conor McGregor," he explained. Cormier highlighted that it was the unparalleled popularity of Conor McGregor that dramatically elevated Diaz’s financial standing. "When Nate Diaz was fighting before he fought Conor McGregor, he could not have said ‘I made more money’ than anybody. He’s making good money but Conor McGregor, as he has done with many people, elevated Nate Diaz and that’s good for him because he made money." Cormier also noted that he had heard Diaz was set to earn a substantial sum, reportedly $10 million, for an upcoming high-profile bout, a development he welcomed. "I heard Nate Diaz is making $10 million to fight on this fight card. Yes! To me, that makes me happy. But again it’s not like I’m sitting over here struggling. I’m doing fine," he concluded, underscoring his own financial security.
Cormier reiterated throughout his lengthy response that he was reluctant to engage in such a public back-and-forth but felt compelled to defend his reputation and profession. Regarding a potential face-to-face encounter with Diaz, Cormier affirmed he would address the issues directly, but without resorting to physical altercation or sensationalism. "Again, I don’t dislike Nate Diaz but that’s my real feelings. That’s how I feel about Nate and I would tell Nate the same thing to his face," Cormier declared. "Guess what? I’m not going to jump around and act like I’m going to fight him in the street and have an entourage of people jumping and screaming, throwing stuff. I’m not doing all that."
Ultimately, Cormier maintained his stance on Diaz’s career, stating that his assessment would remain consistent regardless of the setting. "But if you ask me what I feel about him and his career in my face, I will tell him you’re average. Because that’s exactly what you were. You won 21 fights and lost 13. To a guy like me, that seems impossible. Maybe it’s not but to me, it seems impossible." The exchange has reignited a long-standing debate within the MMA community about the criteria for success in the sport—whether it lies in championship gold and elite records, or in cultivating a captivating persona and achieving mass popularity.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
MMAApril 2, 2026Historic Comeback Confirmed: Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano Set for May Showdown in Los Angeles
MMAApril 2, 2026UFC Legend Daniel Cormier Delivers Blistering Retort to Nate Diaz, Dismissing Rival as ‘Average’ and Underscoring Championship Pedigree
MMAApril 2, 2026Francis Ngannou Parts Ways with Professional Fighters League After Single Bout, Re-entering Free Agency Market
MMAApril 2, 2026Arman Tsarukyan’s White House UFC Announcement Dominates April Fool’s Day 2026 Prank Landscape.
arthur roy sitompul
Anshari Taslim
rifan muazin
Jonas Leo