Daniel Cormier has been at the top of the UFC mountain before, holding both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles.
While neither of his reigns was exceptionally long, Cormier believes that of lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev is shaping up to be.
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Outside of two potential opponents lurking.
Those two would-be challengers are Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot.
“I think they’re all going to be pretty hard fights but (Makhachev) is good man,” Cormier said (thanks to Bloody Elbow for the quotes). “Honestly, Arman or Gamrot I think it’s one of those two.
“Those are the two toughest matchups for him.”
Tsarukyan is up in a couple weeks when he takes on former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. The 27-year-old is seeking his fourth consecutive win since a decision loss to Gamrot in 2022.
That bout earned both “Fight of the Night” honors.
As for Gamrot, the 33-year-old is coming off a decision win over Rafael dos Anjos for his third straight win. His last loss came in 2022 to Beneil Dariush.
Daniel Cormier Impressed By Islam Makhachev Run
Since winning the title in 2022 over Oliveira, Makhachev has bested featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice.
He has not lost since his second appearance in the UFC back in 2015. That night, Adriano Martins caught him in the first round at UFC 192.
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Along the way, Makhachev has topped Tsarukyan via decision in 2019, submitted Dan Hooker in 2021 and stopped Bobby Green in 2022.
