Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier recently stated that facing Brock Lesnar would have been the easiest fight of his professional career, despite Lesnar’s imposing size and strength. The 6’4″, 265-pound wrestling gold medalist’s potential matchup with Cormier never came to fruition, as Lesnar returned to <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE soon after their confrontation in the UFC octagon.
In an interview with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe, Cormier expressed regret over missing the opportunity to fight Lesnar, explaining how WWE’s involvement prevented the bout. Cormier called Lesnar out following his first-round knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, where Lesnar appeared in the octagon and briefly clashed with him.
“The WWE got him, WWE took him back. That was my golden goose, man. We had that moment in the ring. I pushed him, he pushed me. WWE paid him back. They are paying Brock $6-7 million a year, maybe 10.”
—Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Cormier confidently asserted that he would have defeated Lesnar, considering the fight to be one of the safest matches he could have faced. Cormier analyzed Lesnar’s vulnerabilities by referring to Cain Velasquez’s previous victory over Lesnar, highlighting Lesnar’s reaction to strikes and his dependence on takedowns to win fights.
“I’m beating Brock Lesnar, man… It was one of the safest fights I could’ve had. It’s the truth. I like Brock too, he is a great guy, but I watched what Cain [Velasquez] did to him. I watched how he would react to getting punched, and I was going to punch him. He would have to take me down to win the fight, and I can wrestle… I’m going to make it so hard for him to get that takedown that by the time he gets it, he is exhausted. That’s what Cain did to him.”
—Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Daniel Cormier’s Respect for Brock Lesnar’s Strength and Impact
Though confident in his ability to best Lesnar, Cormier has openly acknowledged Lesnar’s extraordinary physical power. During a 2018 interview on the TBS show Conan, Cormier recalled the intense physicality of their face-off at UFC 226, emphasizing Lesnar’s sheer strength.
“He threw me down. Brock Lesnar just maybe the strongest human being walking the face of god’s earth. He’s 6’4 300 pounds.”
—Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Brock Lesnar’s MMA career includes a record of 5 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no contest. He is a former UFC heavyweight champion with notable victories over prominent fighters such as Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and Shane Carwin. His last UFC fight occurred in 2016 and resulted in a no-contest against Mark Hunt due to illegal strikes.
The potential Lesnar versus Cormier fight remains a widely discussed “what if” in MMA circles, especially given the stakes following UFC 226. WWE’s swift reclamation of Lesnar highlighted the ongoing tension between MMA and professional wrestling, impacting fight opportunities for elite athletes like Cormier.
As the UFC continues to evolve its heavyweight division, fans and analysts often revisit the missed showdown between two of combat sports’ most physically imposing figures, underscoring the complexity of cross-promotional contracts that shape fight possibilities.
