Daniel Cormier explains why he is going to retire after Miocic trilogy

Win or lose, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier plans to call it a day after his next appearance inside the cage.

Cormier is set to meet UFC heavyweight world champion Stipe Miocic in a trilogy in the main event of UFC 252 on August 15 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, USA.

‘I’m going to miss the competition, I live for competition. I might be the most competitive guy on the roster, but it has to stop for everyone. Nobody has the ability to train and fight forever, and I know it. I can feel it in my preparation now,” Cormier told mmafighting.com.

The pair holds a knockout win over each other as the score is currently tied 1-1. The upcoming fight will determine the greatest heavyweight of all-time in UFC history, but regardless of the result, the 41-year-old Cormier says there is no way that he is competing against father time.

“Some people go, ‘But what if they give you all the money for this?’ If I have to prepare like I’m preparing right now to do that at my age for a sustained period of time would be very difficult,” he explained.

“At 36, 37, they could call me five weeks before a fight and go, ‘Are you ready?’ I’m like not now, but I guarantee you I will be in three weeks, and I would go do it. I don’t have that luxury anymore. I need 12 weeks to get myself to where I can do what I need to do to win a fight.”

Perhaps another reason why Cormier is comfortable with the thought of retirement is because he already has another career waiting for him. And even though he is about to hang his gloves, fans can still find him in the world of sports.

“I just got an offer from ESPN to work full-time, not from the UFC, but for ESPN the company,” he shared.

“I haven’t signed it yet, but we got an offer. I’ve got a ton of interest from the WWE and a lot of other things outside of mixed martial arts in the broadcast field.” -- BAP, GMA News