Daniel Cormier confirms retirement from UFC at 41 and reveals he does NOT need surgery after eye injury in Miocic loss
DANIEL CORMIER has confirmed his retirement from UFC while saying he believes he will avoid having eye surgery.
The former two-weight champion officially announced his career was over last night, three weeks after his defeat to Stipe Miocic in the pair’s trilogy fight at UFC 252.
DC, 41, was left blinded for the second half of that clash following an inadvertent eye poke, tearing his cornea.
Speaking on ESPN, he said: “The first week and a half, [the eye] was really bad, it wasn't opening, and it was completely blurry, but now it kind of feels like an eyelash is in it.
“I went and saw the doctor last week, and he told me I'm probably not going to have to have surgery, just kind of rest and recover.
“And today it feels good, but just feels like something in there, you know when you get an eyelash and can't get it out? It's just right in the corner.
“It was concerning initially, because they didn't know how severe the impact was going to be going forward.
“They didn't know if I was going to have to have surgery and do all these other things. Luckily I was able to recover, and I feel better, and I prefer not to have surgery.”
On his decision to call it a day inside the cage, Cormier explained: “I’m not going to fight anymore.
“I was talking to Joe Rogan after the fight, and I told him my interest is fighting for championships, and I can’t imagine with a loss that I’d be fighting for a belt again.
“I lost two fights in a row for the first time in my career. You’ve got to understand when it’s time, and the reality is part of the reason I got hit with that right hand by Stipe is because I’m older. You can’t fight father time.
“At 41-years-old, I fought the heavyweight champion of the world three rounds to two with the idea that I wanted to win.
“I didn’t go in there trying to give a good account of myself. I wanted to win the fight and I still believe I can beat Stipe Miocic.
“But every day that passes, it doesn’t work in my favor.”
Prior to his third showdown with Miocic, Cormier confirmed numerous times he was determined to retire.
However, following his defeat, he failed to make that declaration – but there was a reason for that.
DC explained: “I lost the fight, that’s Stipe’s moment. He’s the champ. Why would I do that?
“Because a guy like me retires in the octagon there, that’s what people talk about.
“In the standing in the world, there’s a difference between Stipe and I.
“If I’m in there and I take my gloves off, it’s almost like stealing his thunder. I wasn’t going to do that. He won the fight.”
Cormier added: “I feel like I’m closing the door shut on this thing – it’s over.
“And I’m not sad about it. I’m not sad. I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss the training camps. I’m going to miss the fights.
“There’s nothing like a fight week, but you have to understand when it’s your time. I feel like it’s time.”
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