Daniel Cormier apologizes, hints at potential retirement in moving Instagram post

Daniel Cormier issued a moving apology to his fans via Instagram on Monday, two days after losing the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Cormier entered his match against Stipe Miocic at UFC 241 in Anaheim on Saturday 22-1 in his pro MMA career with one no contest. The lone loss on his record came to Jon Jones at UFC 182 in 2015. He also lost to Jones two years later, though the result was overturned due to a positive steroids test from Jones.

A year after beating Miocic to win the heavyweight belt, Cormier was beaten in the rematch via fourth-round TKO. He expressed his “disappointment” over his loss and also hinted at retirement.

“It’s been a couple of days and I can’t stress the disappointment, I am so sorry to all I have let down,” Cormier wrote. “To my wife and kids I am so sorry you guys had to experience that, I never wanted y’all to see that and the hurt you guys showed breaks my heart everytime I think about it. My coaches I am sorry, i appreciate the work and time you’ve spent with me. My fans, thank you guys for all the love and support you have guided me to all these amazing accomplishments. Stipe Miocic and his team, congratulations on a tremendous victory, you showed so much heart and grit, you are the definition of Cleveland tough. @danawhite And all at the @ufc thank you all for everything you have done for me and my family. This has been the most amazing journey, I will decide what I am gonna do now, and as soon as I decide you will all know right away. I love you all. DC”.

Cormier, who turned 40 in March, has been talking about retirement for around a year. He talked about it ahead of his fight with Miocic, and then again in his post-fight interview.

“I’ve long said I don’t want to be a guy that goes out on my back,” Cormier told MMA Fighting last week. “A lot of our greatest champions they leave the sport on their back. They leave as former champions. They leave their fans with that last vision of their favorite fighter on their back, [then] standing in the middle of the Octagon while their belt is getting strapped on someone else. I don’t want to be that guy.”

Considering he’s on the record saying he doesn’t want to go out a loser, we would be surprised if Cormier actually retired. Maybe a third fight against Miocic would attract him. Getting revenge and winning that fight would be the perfect way to go out, though it wouldn’t be easy.