Cormier on “Rumble” Putting Belt on Him: ‘He Made My Title Win Unique’

Daniel Cormier and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson’s championship fight last Saturday at UFC 187 was unique before it even started. For the first time in years, someone else besides Jon “Bones” Jones would be holding the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship before the night ended.

However, in defeat, “Rumble” showed humility when he took the championship and applied it to the waist of the man who had just choked him out in Daniel Cormier.

“He made my experience different,” Cormier shared during a recent interview on the MMAHour. “By putting on the belt, he made my experience of being crowned a champion different than anyone else in the UFC’s history. Nobody has done that. So thank you Anthony Johnson for making my experience different. I appreciate it and I appreciate you.”

After getting knocked down in the first round by a HUGE shot from Johnson, Cormier made it back to his feet to eventually wear Johnson down to exhaustion. Cormier eventually submitted Johnson in the third round with a rear naked choke and Johnson remained respectful even during the press conference. Johnson showered the newly crowned champion with complements.

“He’s a nice guy and I think maybe he showed exactly how nice he is behaving in the way he did,” Cormier said of Johnson. “A lot of times, losing a fight is tough. In your darkest hours, I guess your true colors show. And Anthony Johnson is made of gold if you ask me for the way that he handled that.”

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson promised he would come back and fight for the gold again. Who do you think he has to beat in order to make it to the front of the line again?

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