Daniel Cormier Says He’ll Retire Early Next Year

Daniel Cormier has just over a year left in his career, according to him. Cormier spoke following his win over Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220 (via the MMA Hour) and said he plans to retire next spring. Highlights are below:

On his retirement date: “Come March (of this year), I will have 12 months, at max, left. I’m going to be done by Mar. 20, 2019. I won’t be fighting again.”

On not planning to make a return once he’s done: “I’m going to be done at 40. I won’t be back. There won’t be jumping around or, ‘I’m done until I get the right type of fight.’ It’ll be over. I’m not going to be doing this anymore. I’ve said time and time again that I’ve lived a great life in sports. I’ve loved every moment of it. My family has revolved around sports. Not only my family, (wife) Selena and the kids – but also my mom and my dad. I’ve been the center of the athletic universe for my family for a really, really long time. It’s time for that to be little Daniel and Marquita. It’s time for them to be the center of our athletic competition, and I just want to be one of those crazy dads that gets to yell on the sideline and just go crazy and brag about his kids.”

On a potential return fight against Jones after that: “It’s not about them anymore; it’s about me. It’s my story. I don’t care who I fight over the course of this next 14 months. It’s going to be who’s deserving. My legacy, my career, is not tied to beating Alexander (Gustafsson) more convincingly this time or finally beating Jon Jones. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. It’s about me and what I’m doing. At the end of the day, I have to be OK with my career when it’s said and done, and my career is good with me when it’s said and done, whether I beat Jones or if I have to beat Gustafsson, or if I never face him. I’m fine with everything.”