Daniel Cormier (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Heading into UFC 252, Daniel Cormier repeatedly said it would mark the last time he would fight, and now the legendary fighter has confirmed, he is retired.

For some time, Cormier said that his rubber match with heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic would be the last of his career. But, despite those statements, there was talk that “DC” might elect to keep fighting.

After his decision loss to Miocic last month, Cormier said that since he’s only interested in fighting for titles, he was done competing. But, since Cormier’s vision was compromised by an eye poke in the bout, there was speculation he might elect to fight again.

While discussing his future on ESPN recently, however, Cormier said the following (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“I’m not going to fight anymore,” Cormier said. “I was talking to Joe Rogan after the fight, and I told him my interest is fighting for championships, and I can’t imagine with a loss that I’d be fighting for a belt again. I lost two fights in a row for the first time in my career. You’ve got to understand when it’s time, and the reality is part of the reason I got hit with that right hand by Stipe is because I’m older. You can’t fight father time.

“At 41 years old, I fought the heavyweight champion of the world three rounds to two with the idea that I wanted to win. I didn’t go in there trying to give a good account of myself. I wanted to win the fight and I still believe I can beat Stipe Miocic. But every day that passes, it doesn’t work in my favor.”

Cormier concludes his remarkable career having gone 22-3, with 1 no-contest.