Daniel Cormier explains why he didn’t fight Anthony Johnson at UFC 205

Recently, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, and light heavyweight #1 contender Anthony Johnson took to Twitter to exchange verbal blows. Johnson called Cormier out for a fight at UFC 205, the UFC’s inaugural event at the Madison Square Garden, however Cormier was quick to shut down the idea, claiming his analyst duties for Fox Sports 1 would prevent him from fighting on November 12th.

This week however, it was announced that Cormier and Johnson would be squaring off at UFC 206, which is set to take place in Toronto, Ontario on December 10th. Following that announcement, Cormier revealed the real reason behind why he was didn’t accept the fight with ‘Rumble’ at UFC 205.

He spoke to MMAJunkie:

“I had to do some stuff to my knee,” said Cormier, the No. 2 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. “So I needed a little more time. Obviously, I’m not going to tell that to Anthony before it happens. But I fought on UFC 200, which was a massive card, so I don’t really feel that need to just be on the first card in Madison Square Garden.”

“I would have made more money if I fought at UFC 205,” Cormier said. “McGregor sells more pay-per-views than anybody in the game, so obviously I would have benefitted from that. But Tyron Woodley will benefit from it, Joanna Jedrzejczyk will benefit from it, and I’m happy for them. I fought at UFC 200, and even though we didn’t make the money that we anticipated, we made a ton of money.

“I’m not a guy that needs so much; I work all the time. I live off my TV money and sponsorships. Of course, I’m not saying I don’t want more money. I’m saying I don’t feel the need to say, ‘I have to do this’ because Conor is fighting and I’ll make more money. I’ll do what’s best for me, and what’s best for me and my family. Instead of having one massive pay-per-view payday, be in shape, be ready to go and continue to get pay-per-view (points) over the course of however many fights I have the belt.”

With the pair now set to fight at UFC 206, do you think Cormier will once again emerge victorious, or will Johnson continue his tear of the light heavyweight division, and finally claim the UFC light heavyweight championship?