Islam Makhachev has mocked "fat guy" Daniel Cormier after the UFC legend made an appearance as a referee during a recent WWE show.
UFC legend Cormier retired from fighter after losing his second consecutive fight to Stipe Miocic in 2020. However he has by no means disappeared from the world of combat sports and is regularly seen as an analyst at UFC events despite no longer competing.
And in his most recent public appearance, Cormier played the role of special guest referee for the 'Fight Pit' match between Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle at WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view. Fans were left thrilled by his performance which has seen calls for him to make appearances as a fighter in the future.
However UFC rising star Makhachev has instead poked fun at Cormier for his performance by claiming his former training partner now wants to eat all day. “Look at this fat guy,” Makhachev told Shak MMA. “He cannot compete anymore, he is a referee right now. He’s a smart guy, you don’t have to be good shape for come back, he just wants to be a referee, do some easy stuff. He don’t want to cut anymore, he wants to eat all day. Burgers, chips, this guy’s so smart.”
Makhachev has worked with Cormier for several years since the ex-champion trained with him at the American Kickboxing Academy and became friends of the Dagestani fighters including Khabib Nurmagomedov. His comments have of course come in jest with Cormier having wrestled with Makhachev on multiple occasions prior to his officiating appearance.
The Russian had joined fans in mocking Cormier for his weight, which the former heavyweight champion has suggested he will now look to shed so he can open the door to any fights in the WWE. “I came home and my partner at my barbershops, he was at my house and he was like, ‘Damn, you look a lot bigger on TV,’” Cormier said on his DC & RC show. “I was like ‘TV adds a few pounds, and the stripes didn’t help.’
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"But that visual is why I’m going to lose weight. That visual is why your boy’s going to lose weight. So, they were talking to me about doing future things in the WWE. And I go, ‘I’ll do things, but I’ve got to get in shape first.’ Like give your boy some time to get some of this baggage off, this luggage.
"Let me get rid of some of the checked baggage and then maybe do a couple carry-ons, and then now I’m able to go and do some things in the ring. Let me have a couple carry-ons on the side and not the entire huge suitcase.”
