Daniel Cormier Shares His Conflicted Feelings as a Reinstated Champion

After losing his title to Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier was unfortunately dragged through another situation involving his opponent being flagged for an anti-doping violation. The title was removed from his waist, placed on Jones’, now it’s been taken away and given right back. When he became champion by beating Anthony Johnson, some fans didn’t accept Cormier as the true champion. Now, Cormier finds himself back in the same predicament. On the record books, it’s like the fight never happened. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it happened for Daniel Cormier.

“The people around me, my friends, they tell me that nothing has changed because if [Jon Jones] was not fighting completely clean, then there was no fight. But I was there. I fought. In my mind, I lost a competition, but if it was an unfair competition — I shouldn’t have been in it. It’s a hard question. I guess I do feel like the champion, because I know I was the champion before all this happened. I don’t know. It’s a difficult question to ask someone like me. My manager, my wife, my coaches — it’s easy for them to answer. For me, it’s a tough question.”

“The hardest part is, why hasn’t this happened to me? If all these supplements are so easily messed with, why haven’t I tested positive in 12 years? I’ve been in this program for 12 years because of wrestling. Why haven’t my supplements been tainted? Why haven’t I taken something that made it easier for me to get out of bed in the morning? That’s where the frustration comes from. If people aren’t interested [in another title fight from me], they have every right, but I think a lot of questions about the belt will be answered once I defend the title again. Right now, it’s hard because the last time I fought, I lost. I think in time, people will remember me for the things I’ve accomplished.” – Daniel Cormier speaking to ESPN.

Throughout this whole troubling situation, Daniel Cormier has been nothing but a lesson in class. He doesn’t owe us anything, yet he continues to open up and be candid about how this process has affected him. No matter who you’re a fan of, whether it be Jon Jones or Daniel Cormier, you have to admire and respect DC’s character. With or without the belt, win or lose, that guy is a champion.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/16/2017.