Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier thinks that one of his former teammates would have given him a run for his money.
In a legendary career of 26 fights on two weight distributions, only a few men can claim a victory over Cormier: Jon Jones in light heavyweight and stipe Miocic on heavyweight.
Just like his former enemies, Cormier is considered one of the greatest hunters of all time with six UFC title fights. 'DC' fought some of the biggest names at Light Heavyweight: Jones (Twice), Anderson Silva, Alexander Gustafsson and the Late, Great Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson (also twice).
Now Cormier has now retired at MMA for almost five years and recently gave an interesting view of how a fight with the Marquee Chael Sonnen would have gone at 205LBS.
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Daniel Cormier says that he would have 'had his hands full' with Chael Sonnen Battle
Once former training partners, Daniel Cormier coached the last season of 'The Ultimate Fighter 33' opposite Sonnen, one of the greatest draws of the UFC for his trash can.
Sonnen in particular challenged three times for the UFC title about the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions where he lost to the then champion Anderson Silva twice and Jon Jones. A wrestler, Sonnen, went 7-7 in the first promotion with victories over former champions Michael Bisping and Mauricio Rua.
The coaches in 'The Ultimate Fighter' reality TV show often fight against each other after filming. Of course that will not be the case for the retired Cormier and Sunen – but the question was asked: who would have won in light heavyweight?
“It would have been so difficult [fight]”Cormier said about Sonnen in an interview with New York Post Sports.
'Chael was good, man …
“We trained together and [Sonnen gave me] Some of the most difficult training sessions I have ever had and I trained my entire career with Luke Rockhold and Cain Velasquez.
“It was difficult. Good, difficult training sessions.
“I would have had my hands full because his style was very similar to mine,” Cormier added.
Chael Sonnen admits that he has never surpassed Daniel Cormier in training
Former analysts at UFC on Fox Tonight, Cormier said that he and Sonnen would train together in the gym of Jay Glazer after working at the employment agency.
Sitting next to 'DC' After calling his former teammate a serious fight, Sonnen replied:
“That is a huge compliment from Daniel, and I will take it, but he is a nice guy.
“In those training sessions I never got the best of him,” Sonen explained.
“But we worked hard. I was able to push him. It was not a waste of someone's time and we both try to get better. I was in a different weight class [middleweight].
“My ego can handle it, but I appreciate how nice he is when he says,” Sonen said about Cormier's comments.