A defeated Cormier did hint at retirement after the fight, but UFC President Dana White doesn’t think that should happen.
“I think he’s one of the best in the world,” White said after this weeks Contender Series (via John Morgan & Ken Hathaway of MMA Junkie). “I was looking at the (official UFC) rankings today when they came out – it’s just (expletive) insane to me. This guy on Saturday night was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He loses and drops to No. 7, and he loses to the No. 1 heavyweight contender in the world, and the guy who has the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history, and Cormier drops to No. 7? It’s crazy. He’s much higher than that, and he’s one of the best to ever do it. He’s still one of the best in the world. He looked damn good until, like I said the night of the fight, whoever came up with that ‘go to the body’ gameplan in between rounds was (expletive) brilliant. Brilliant. It was even more brilliant the way Stipe executed it. So, yes, I think he’s one of the best in the world, and I don’t think he should retire, but that’s up to him and his family.”
Cormier did say he would speak to family and coaches before deciding on retirement, but a timeline wasn’t given on when a decision would be made.
White is also up for a potential rubber match between the newly crowned heavyweight champion and the former heavyweight champion.
“I’ll do anything (Cormier) wants to do, and obviously I’ll do anything that Stipe wants to do,” White said. “Stipe’s got to want the trilogy, too.”
Miocic hasn’t commented on a potential third fight with Cormier, but is just one of two fighters to beat DC in professional MMA.
