
UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier stopped by as a guest on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio with Matt Camp and Bully Ray to discuss UFC 232 at Madison Square Garden and it means to fight in a historic venue. Early in the discussion he also goes into detail about how storytelling in professional wrestling inspires so much in mixed martial arts and potentially fighting Brock Lesnar in the future.
Here are a few excerpts of the interview, which can also be viewed in full below (Credit to Christopher McManus of WrestleZone for the transcription):
Cormier highlighting the parallels between WWE and UFC’s storytelling:
“I think people are drawn to that. Even though some mixed martial arts fans like to pretend, ‘we don’t like WWE, it isn’t real’. Hey, you are drawn to the fact to a tale as old as time… Vince McMahon or anybody else would’ve build a guy to the point that you like him. [For example], Conor McGregor. The UFC has built up Conor McGregor, built his backstory and I love him. It’s the same formula.”
On his confrontation with Brock Lesnar At UFC 226:
“I see Brock, right, and here’s the crazy thing about this. I saw Brock before the fight, as I was doing my sprints during my warm-up and I see a black car with security bringing Brock out. I’m like, ‘Oh Brock’s here, this adds another layer to the fight,’ as I’m facing the greatest Heavyweight in the world. I’m entering the ring first…then Stipe’s music hit and it gors dark. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Brock smiling at me… I won the fight and I told Brock to get in here. I didn’t know he was going to charge at me as I would’ve dug my heels into the octagon…throughout this whole time I was like ‘Holy shit, I’m having a WrestleMania moment.'”
Brock Lesnar Daniel Cormier UFC 226
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar watches the fights during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier confronts Brock Lesnar in the Octagon after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar (L) confronts Daniel Cormier (R) after his heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar (R) challenges Daniel Cormier after Cormier's heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier (R) addresses with Brock Lesnar after winning his heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier (L) challenges Brock Lesnar (R) after winning his heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier confronts Brock Lesnar after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier confronts Brock Lesnar after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)