Daniel Cormier told Alex Pereira directly at UFC White House media day that winning a third UFC title would not yet make him the greatest of all time, saying Pereira still has more work to do before surpassing the sport’s established legends.
Cormier addressed the awkward exchange publicly.
Alex just asked me that directly, and he’s big now so that’s a hard question to answer in front of him when he’s that big. I actually told him no. I told him that I don’t think he’d be the greatest just yet.
Cormier acknowledged a three-division title would be historically unprecedented but said it is not sufficient on its own.
He would need to defend the championship at heavyweight. He’s fought for that light heavyweight title a lot of times. I think that he just needs more work. But I do believe being a three-division champion is one of the greatest accomplishments ever. But to put him over Georges St-Pierre or Khabib Nurmagomedov, I don’t think quite yet. Jon Jones, you guys know how I feel about that.
Dana White said earlier this week that a Pereira win over Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 would make him the GOAT, surpassing Jones. Cormier is not in agreement.
