Daniel Cormier talks move to heavyweight, says UFC has already suggested some “options”

Having relinquished the UFC light heavyweight title to his arch rival Jon Jones, former champion Daniel Cormier now finds himself at a crossroads. Really, if he doesn’t retire, he would seem to have two options. The first is to keep slogging away at light heavyweight in hopes of earning a third fight with Jones. The second would be to return to heavyweight, where his career began, and attempt to compete with apex predators like Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez.

Speaking on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Cormier discussed a possible move back to heavyweight. Apparently, the move back up would not be an easy one, but it’s one he’d certainly consider.

“I’ve really shrunk myself from heavyweight,” the former champ told host Ariel Helwani. “I used to have big old traps. I was a bigger guy when I fought at heavyweight. But I’d entertain anything.”

Cormier then explained that the UFC has already made a few suggestions with respect to a possible move back to heavyweight.

“The UFC values me, and honestly, they’ve already reached out with some ideas about me fighting, and I was like ‘well, I need time.’ There are options at heavyweight and options at 205.”

“It’s a matter of what I decide to do,” he continued. “At this point, Ariel, I’ve kind of gotten to a point in my career where the UFC, they really are open to a lot of my suggestions.”

Surprisingly, Cormier also said he believes he and Jones will fight for a third time down the road:

“I don’t know exactly what path leads back to a fight with Jones, but I believe he’ll be the champion, and I don’t believe that anyone else in this division can compete with me,” he said. “So after I win enough fights, I believe we’ll fight again.”

Do you want to see Daniel Cormier return to heavyweight?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/14/2017.