Morning Report: Daniel Cormier says ‘psychological fatigue’ behind Ilia Topuria wanting to maneuver to light-weight

Daniel Cormier thinks Ilia Topuria may be burned out.

In October, Topuria knocked out Max Holloway at UFC 308, making the primary profitable protection of his featherweight title. Afterward, it seems that Topuria would then transfer on to a rematch with former champion Alexander Volkanovski subsequent, nevertheless, earlier this week, Topuria revealed that he’s contemplating vacating his belt to maneuver as much as 155 kilos. Ought to it come to move, it might be a surprising flip of occasions however one which former two-division champion Daniel Cormier understands.

“You recognize what it makes me suppose once I hear him going, ‘I don’t wish to combat Diego [Lopes], I don’t wish to combat [Movsar] Evloev, I don’t wish to combat Volkanovski once more? It makes me suppose, actually, that the fights to win the belt and the combat to retain the belt was too large,” Cormier mentioned on his YouTube channel. “… It doesn’t really feel as thrilling.

“I feel, for Topuria, he’s like, ‘I simply beat the 2 best featherweights of the era, now I’ve obtained to combat Diego Lopes? Now I’ve obtained to combat Evloev? I feel, for him, it would really feel just like the challenges aren’t as nice as those he needed to undergo with the intention to grow to be the champion.”

Cormier went on to liken Topuria’s state of affairs to Jon Jones’ gentle heavyweight title reign, the place Jones’s performances dropped off as he confronted opposition that was extensively considered as straightforward matchups in comparison with his preliminary title opponents. In fact, Topuria is just not Jones in that he solely has a two-fight title run, however contemplating how spectacular these wins have been — over all-time nice fighters like Volkanovski and Max Holloway — Cormier believes it’s comprehensible.

“Whenever you beat the perfect guys, particularly the 2 guys that dominated the division for therefore lengthy, there generally is a little little bit of fatigue in there,” Cormier mentioned. “It’s not like muscle fatigue; it’s psychological fatigue. As a result of it’s important to be so as much as do what he did to Max Holloway and to do what he did to Volkanovski.

“I don’t care what folks let you know, the one ones that imagine that he would do what he did was Ilia Topuria and his workforce. You’ll be able to’t suppose that that was going to occur simply being on the skin. He went and he knocked out Max Holloway. That doesn’t occur. You don’t knock out Max Holloway. He knocked out Volkanovski. You don’t do these issues again to again.

“So now to suppose, ‘I went from preventing two established veteran stars, stars, those who promote pay-per-view, the BMF champion, to now I’ve obtained to combat a man that’s on the upswing, a man that’s on the rise, a man that actually is who I used to be solely a pair fights in the past.”

Feud. Colby Covington slams Jon Jones for ‘ducking’ Tom Aspinall, avoiding fights the place ‘he is aware of he’s going to get his ass beat.’

Essential Occasion. Joaquin Buckley claims Colby Covington was ‘scared’ to coach with him.

Charged. Nate Diaz charged with misdemeanor battery over alleged incident at Las Vegas nightclub.

Choices. UFC homeowners reveal ‘we’re exploring’ choices in boxing, doubtlessly inviting ‘funding accomplice’ from the Center East.

Group MMA. World Battle League proclaims a brand new team-based group with an enormous checklist of signings, together with 8 former UFC champions.

UFC Tampa Media Day movies.

And a Colby coaching vlog.

Farewell, Jack Shore.

Muhammad Mokaev responds to Manel Kape.

Merab.

Corey Anderson listening to the rumors already.

PUBG MMA?

Kevin Holland, the modern-day Bully Beatdown.

Callout.

Unbelievable.

Muhammad Mokaev (12-0, 1 NC) vs. Joevincent So (10-5); Courageous CF 91, Dec. 13.

Vadim Nemkov (18-2, 1 NC) vs. Corey Anderson (18-6, 1 NC); Bellator Dubai, Jan. 25.

Amanda Lemos (14-4-1) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (17-5); UFC 313, March 8.

Molly McCann (14-7) vs. Istela Nunes (6-5); UFC London, March 22.

Christian Leroy Duncan (10-2) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (9-2); UFC London, March 22.

Shauna Bannon (6-1) vs. Puja Tomar (9-4); UFC London, March 22.

Alonzo Menifield (15-5-1) vs. Oumar Sy (11-0); UFC London, March 22.

I’m on the document that this whole Ilia factor is BS and he’s not going to do it, as a result of why would he? Leaving the belt means leaving the PPV factors. The person is posturing. He’s going to stay at 145 for at the least two extra fights, and he ought to. Getting PPV factors to beat a dude you already beat is nice enterprise. Going up and getting wailed on by both Islam Makhachev or Arman Tsarukyan is just not. — Meshew

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