UFC light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has indicated that he plans to hang up his gloves at the end of next year.
“I’ve been pretty vocal about it, that you’ll never see me at 40,” Cormier told ESPN. “We may be going into my last year in 2018. And I’m completely at peace with that.”
Cormier fought twice in the past year, claiming a submission win over Anthony Johnson in their rematch at UFC 210 in April, before being knocked out by Jon Jones at UFC 214 in July – though that result was later amended to a no-contest and he was handed back his title when his rival failed a post-fight drug test.
Now Cormier is looking to fight a few more times in the coming year and then pass on the torch to the next generation.
“It’s time for this dude [nods at his son, Daniel Jr.] to take precedent in terms of sports,” Cormier said. “I’ve been doing high-level sports since I was 15. I can’t do it forever. I’m ready to give the commitment and focus to my boy, after a few fights. I’ve got a couple [fights] left in me.”
DC is expected to currently booked to fight Volkan Oezdemir next at UFC 220 in January, leaving open the possibility of one or two more fights after that in the remainder of 2018.
