UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier made history on Saturday, July 7, when he knocked out UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic for his title. Now D.C. has come forward with a few words on what he believes gave him an advantage over his opponent in the match up.
Speaking on The MMA Hour, Daniel Cormier revealed that he did not have to cut so much weight for his move up to the heavyweight class.
“I felt like I was faster. because at 205, I think my speed, it doesn’t jump out at you as much because all of these guys that I fight are pretty fast. So I think I felt faster, I think I felt faster at heavyweight, and then just not having to do that weight cut, it makes such a big deal, man. That weight cut can really, really — it can really brutalize you.
“[Without the weight cut] I was so excited, man. I was in the back trying to contain myself. Like, how do I stay the course and not put myself in the fight too early, because without having to worry about the weight management, now I have all this time to think about the fight, and I do a lot of visualization and stuff. So it’s like, when I visualize, I’m like, ‘Wow, I could go and just fight right now. I don’t have to cut any weight. How do I monitor myself and manage my energy in regards to the fight?’ I can’t get too excited, so I was really trying to peel myself back a lot. I was trying to peel myself back a lot when it came to thinking about the fight.”
