The Daniel Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar hype fizzled out after it was announced that Lesnar would not be able to return to the Octagon until January, 2019.
While Lesnar will undergo USADA’s six-month drug testing protocol, Cormier has accepted a title fight against Derrick Lewis and will look to retain his heavyweight strap at UFC 230 on Nov. 3.
If Cormier wins, it’s expected that the UFC will immediately book the Lesnar fight, but that isn’t a guarantee. ‘DC’s’ arch rival Jon Jones will be returning to the UFC on Dec. 29 and, if victorious against Alexander Gustafsson, the former light heavyweight champ could go on to call out Lesnar for a superfight.
‘Bones’ teased of a fight with Lesnar back at UFC 214 and the controversial star will be looking to make a statement in his return to the Octagon at UFC 232.
Cormier, however, isn’t worried about Jones’ post-fight antics and believes the UFC will stay true to their word and book him — not Jones — against Lesnar.
“No (I’m not worried about Jones taking that fight from me),” Cormier said at a UFC 230 media day (h/t Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie) . “I’ve got to be honest with you: Over the course of my career I haven’t been done like that. I haven’t had anything promised to me that hasn’t been delivered. The UFC’s been good to me. I don’t worry about that.
“I know I’m going to fight Lesnar. There’s nobody or anything that could change that. They’ve never done me like that, so there’s no reason to believe it would start now.”
Reflecting on his UFC 226 post-fight scuffle with Lesnar in Las Vegas, Cormier said ‘it was the greatest thing ever’ and looks forward to finally locking horns with the WWE superstar next year.
“When I was in there with Lesnar on July 7 and he pushed me, I was like, ‘Holy (expletive),’ I’m having a WrestleMania moment. I’ve got to be honest. I was having a WrestleMania moment. It was the greatest thing ever. I wanted to hit him, but my hand was hurting. He was big and I was kind of thrown off. His outfit was kind of jacked up. … I want to fight Brock. It will be fun.”
UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis takes place on November 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.