Daniel Cormier shares thoughts on Brock Lesnar returning to UFC
After Daniel Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, all signs pointed to “DC” taking on Brock Lesnar. The WWE star even entered the Octagon and shoved Cormier.
But, when the heavyweight champ defended his belt, it was against Derrick Lewis, not Lesnar. Then, the expectation was the fight between Lesnar would happen in the summer. However, it was rumored failed negotiations between the UFC and Lesnar led to the 41-year-old re-upping with the WWE and Cormier now rematching Miocic at UFC 241.
Now, after a few weeks since the announcement, Cormier explained why he believes Lesnar went to WWE.
“I’m sure Brock couldn’t come to terms with the UFC, in terms of financial offer,” Cormier told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world of mixed martial arts right now in terms of pay-per-view. It’s not as straight forward as when Brock was there. I think when Brock looked at the landscape of the sport, what they were offering him, Brock said, ‘I can make guaranteed money [in WWE].’ Not work as hard. He’d have to work his ass off [to fight me] and it’s probably gonna go the bad way. Whereas with the WWE, it’s usually determined in his favor. So, as a businessman, I think Brock made the right decision.
“Then it works, right? Everybody is talking like, ‘Oh, [WWE Chairman] Vince McMahon keeps putting the belt on Brock’ or keeps doing this with Brock. Brock Was on the pay-per-view and then Brock was on Monday night and the ratings increased. … There’s a method to the old man’s madness. He just continues to kind of rely on Brock and Brock has shown to be a commodity that keeps working for him.”
Ultimately, Daniel Cormier will not get his big money fight against Lesnar and will look to show the world his knockout win over Miocic was not a fluke.
