World's Most Dangerous Everyman

November 5, 2018 1:56 PM

Daniel Cormier is the UFC heavyweight champion, one of the most successful fighters in MMA history, and he’s (possibly) a few months away from retirement. You’d never guess any of that by looking at him. He smiles so genuinely when fans approach him that you’d swear he’s known them his whole life. In fact, if you tell him he’s great, he thanks you in a way that suggests you’re probably wrong. There is almost nothing menacing about Daniel Cormier.

All of this is why, when the UFC couldn’t find a big attraction to headline Saturday’s pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden, they called The World’s Most Dangerous Everyman and dangled a heavyweight title defense against massively powerful Derrick Lewis. Even with a big bout looming against Brock Lesnar, the ever-sensible Cormier weighed the risks versus the rewards of taking on the 260-pound Lewis on short notice. Then he shrugged his shoulders and asked, “Why not?”

spoiler alert

Cormier won handily

posted by MovableBookLady (8 comments total)

Great fight by Cormier. I wonder if he could beat a 100% DRUG-FREE Jon Jones.
posted by Guide Your Health at 4:42 PM on November 5, 2018

Oh he seems sweet.
posted by k8t at 4:52 PM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Daddest man on the planet.
posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 6:49 PM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

A fighter like Lewis or Özdemir always has a puncher's chance. But this felt a lot like Cormier's fights with Hendo or the barista: he simply proved yet again that there are levels to this sport. To belong in the cage against Cormier you need damn good wrestling and to be able to set a damn good striking pace. Few are on that level—Gus, Jones, Stipe, arguably Rumble and Silva. Lewis is a true athlete (notice his kicks!) but his lack of cardio and wrestling made this fight look more like a sparring match.

There is almost nothing menacing about Daniel Cormier.

Watch his walkout, or his face while Bruce Buffer announces him. His game face and his enormous trapezii should menace—see the first photo in this Forbes piece.

Relatedly, I was watching a highlight video of Cormier's MMA wrestling before the Lewis fight, and if I learned anything from it, it's that even though it's tempting to work his body, throwing a round kick to Daniel Cormier's middle is playing with fire.
posted by daveliepmann at 3:01 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]

I liked that highlight video. You can see DC thinking, and flicking his head aside, and moving swiftly to take advantage. He's very definitely a ground-game guy, which makes sense for a former Olympic-level wrestler. And yes, you can see him waiting for that kick "come on come on, give me that leg." He's nice to watch.
posted by MovableBookLady at 8:47 AM on November 6, 2018

Oh HELL yes I've been wondering if there were any other Mefi fight fans! I've been getting into watching the sport after spending a few months at an MMA gym.
posted by scruffy-looking nerfherder at 9:07 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]

From everything I’ve seen of Cormier, he’s a real classy guy. Down to earth, respectful, and a great fighter.
posted by tdismukes at 11:29 AM on November 7, 2018

Former MMA fighter Sharice Davids elected to Congress by Kansas voters
posted by homunculus at 3:30 PM on November 16, 2018