Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has disclosed that despite holding both the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles at the time, the UFC wouldn’t provide him tickets to the blockbuster Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor matchup at UFC 229.
“It was such a hot ticket that me, as the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, they said, ‘DC, we have no tickets,'” Cormier explained in a recent interview. “I said, then I’ll buy them. I have to support my guy.”
Cormier, who trains with Nurmagomedov at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), ended up spending $10,000 for front row seats for himself and his family to witness the most anticipated bout in UFC history.
The former champion described the electric atmosphere of the event, noting that he still revisits footage of the athletes’ entrances to the octagon.
“I still go back today and watch them just walk to the octagon. It was that big a deal,” Cormier said.
Cormier shared details of his interactions with Nurmagomedov before the bout, including visiting his locker room to offer support. He observed a telling moment during Nurmagomedov‘s walkout that reassured him of his teammate’s mental state.
“As I’m watching Khabib walk, he turns the corner, and he sees one of the ushers, and he looks at him, and he fist bumps him, and I go, he going to be okay,” recalled Cormier. “He was good. He wasn’t nervous.”
The aftermath of the bout created chaos in the arena, with security escorting families, including Cormier‘s, away from the front row for safety. Cormier helped calm the situation, earning gratitude from UFC President Dana White.
“Dana says, ‘You know what? Take your money back,'” Cormier recounted. “‘Because I don’t know that I would have been able to get this situation under control without you. You’re not paying.'”
Cormier emphasized the cultural significance of the event, noting that the controversial conclusion actually elevated Nurmagomedov‘s global profile.
“He became a global superstar on that night,” said Cormier. “It was absolutely crazy.”
UFC 229 remains the highest-selling pay-per-view in the promotion’s history, demonstrating the immense public interest that even left a sitting double champion paying out of pocket for the privilege of attendance.
