In a recent video that’s gone viral across social media, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier responded with justified indignation when a staff member posed the seemingly disrespectful question: “Do you ever wish you were athletic?”
Cormier, visibly taken aback, responded emphatically: “That’s absolutely ridiculous. Have you seen my career? That’s so disrespectful.”
The Olympic wrestler-turned-MMA superstar didn’t hold back in reminding everyone of his impressive athletic résumé: “In my prime, I had athleticism to spare. I could pass some of my athletic ability to more people on the UFC roster. I could do everything. Basketball. Soccer. I’ve just unlocked the fact that I’m still a pretty good soccer player. I can hit a baseball. I went to the Olympics. There’s a lot of cool stuff I did.”
While the question appears to have been posed in jest to provoke a reaction—successfully “rage baiting” the UFC Hall of Famer—many fans and analysts quickly came to Cormier’s defense online.
MMA journalist Dave Meltzer highlighted Cormier’s exceptional athletic background: “Not only did he win senior nationals six times in wrestling, place fourth in the Olympics, win UFC titles in two weight classes, competed at the championship level past the age of 40 in a sport he didn’t start until he was 30… You will find few athletic resumes in multiple sports equal to his.”
Another fan pointed out that “Prime DC was picking up heavyweights like a sack of potatoes and throwing them around like it was nothing.”
Despite sometimes facing criticism about his physique, Cormier’s athletic achievements speak volumes. Before his MMA career, he was All-State in football as a linebacker with Division 1 offers. According to one commenter, during his college days, DC could “do backflips across the entire gymnasium.”
Others emphasized how Cormier’s athleticism manifested in the octagon, with one fan noting he “used to throw jumping roundhouse kicks” and another praising his “best gas tanks of any fighter in any division.”
While some viewers recognized the question as an obvious attempt at humor to elicit a reaction, many felt it demonstrated a lack of respect for one of combat sports’ most accomplished athletes.
