UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has given his shock reasoning for looking so devastated when Robert Whittaker endured what would be his first loss to somebody not named Israel Adesanya, saying: “I thought it was over”.
On the eve of Sunday’s blockbuster UFC 308 card in Abu Dhabi, Cormier has also suggested Australia’s first UFC champ should be catapulted straight back into a title fight if he upsets undefeated UFC bogeyman Khamzat Chimaev.
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While it has now been five years since he held UFC middleweight gold, Whittaker is suddenly on the cusp of earning a third championship opportunity in his hyped UFC 308 co-main against Chimaev.
A win for the Sydneysider would continue a stunning return to form since suffering a shock 2023 loss to South Africa’s Driscus du Plessis – the man who is now division king himself.
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While Whittaker went into that UFC 290 bout a strong favourite, he was stopped within two rounds by a fighter who has since taken the title from American Sean Strickland and defended against Israel Adesanya.
During an interview with Main Event’s Niko Pajarillo in Abu Dhabi this week, Cormier was asked his recollections of that DDP loss – and more specifically, his reactions afterwards while working in UFC commentary.
It was pointed out that, moments after Whittaker was finished, and cameras flashed to get a reaction from the commentary team cageside, the two-division UFC champ appeared visibly upset.
Asked by Pajarillo if, maybe, he simply had a soft spot for the fighter dubbed Bobby Knuckles, Cormier revealed his response represented a lot more, stating: “I thought it was over for Rob”.
Cormier added that he had spent years being amazed by Whittaker’s ability to fight back after losing the title to Adesanya in 2019, and then dropping their world title rematch in early 2022.
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However after spending years watching ‘Boby Knuckles’ fight, and beat, so many of the division’s most dangerous dudes, he felt the du Plessis loss represented the end for a man who made his Octagon debut way back in 2012.
“I do have a soft spot for Rob,” Cormier started when asked of his reaction.
“But I also felt, look, man … it’s almost like you stick your hand close to the fire, stick your hand close to the fire, stick your hand close to the fire.
“Fighting all these dangerous dudes, eventually you’re going to get burned.
“And Rob got burned.
“He had worked his way to another opportunity and then he gets knocked out.
“So, yes, it was disappointment because I knew how hard he had worked to put himself back there.
“(But) I also thought it was over.
“I didn’t know how good Dricus was, I don’t think anyone knew how good he was.
“But I thought if he is losing to these types of guys, it’s over for Rob … and that is sad.”
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Given his emotions while sat cageside that night, Cormier praised what is yet another resurgence this year for Whittaker, who has responded from the DDP loss with big wins over Brazilian Paulo Costa and hyped Russian prospect Ikram Aliskerov.
Asked to asses Whittaker’s latest title push, Cormier continued: “It’s unbelievable.
“I honestly can’t imagine having to rebuild the way he has, multiple times.
“When he lost the belt the first time to Izzy, he had to go through Jared Cannonier and all these guys to get back.
“Now he has to go through Paulo Costa, has to beat Aliskerov, and now he has to go through Chimaev … and he still isn’t said to be the number one contender.
“They say the number one contender is Strickland, right?
“Yet it’s so clear that if Robert Whittaker wins this fight he should be the number one contender.
“His ability to rebuild is not like anything I’ve seen before.”
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Where do you think it comes from?
“No idea,” Cormier continued.
“It’s hard, man.
“I told Max Holloway this, I go ‘when I lost (to Jon Jones) in Anaheim, I thought if I don’t get a title fight right now, I don’t know how I’ll build my way back’.
“But Rob never thinks that.
“He just thinks ‘let’s get back to work’.
“It’s partly him and also the environment he was brought up in.”
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While he admits to being an unabashed Whittaker fan, Cormier also branded the undefeated Chimaev a “scary” prospect who is “very dangerous for anybody in the world”.
“Khamzat Chimaev is one of the best fighters in the world,” Cormier said.
“The way that he attacks guys, it’s very unique.
“(Initially) You kind of thought we were seeing this because he was fighting lower level guys.
“But then he fought Kamaru Usman the same way.
“It is who he is.
“That’s what makes him scary.”
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So what must Whittaker do to win?
“He needs to set a super high pace,” Cormier continued.
“He has to be the guy to set the pace,
“He can’t let Chimaev dictate to him when the wrestling starts, how the wrestling plays out.
“Because if Chimaev is doing that, then he’s comfortable.
“And even if it’s a 25 minute fight, you only have to win three rounds.
“And Chimaev has the ability to go win the first three by being the guy setting the pace.”
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