America’s MMA Dominance is Fading—But Daniel Cormier Has a Plan to Bring It Back
The UFC landscape is shifting, and Daniel Cormier isn’t happy about it. With the highly anticipated UFC White House event on the horizon, the former champion is sounding the alarm: American fighters are struggling to claim their place at the top. But here’s where it gets controversial—Cormier believes this isn’t just a temporary slump; it’s a trend that demands immediate action. And this is the part most people miss: the decline isn’t just in the heavyweight division—it’s across the board.
Currently, the UFC boasts only three undisputed American champions: Ohio’s Kayla Harrison (bantamweight) and Arizona’s Mackenzie Dern (strawweight) in the women’s divisions, with no American men holding a title in any weight class. Arizona’s Justin Gaethje recently secured an interim lightweight title, but it’s a small consolation. In a candid interview with Sports Illustrated, Cormier addressed the elephant in the room: the lack of American dominance in MMA. When asked about the heavyweight division—which features no U.S. fighters in the top 10—Cormier didn’t hold back.
‘It’s not dead,’ Cormier assured, pointing to rising stars like Tom Aspinall, who he called ‘an absolute stud.’ But he also acknowledged the division’s challenges, including Aspinall’s recent eye injury and the lingering presence of Jon Jones, whose future remains uncertain. ‘The heavyweight division is always going to be OK because it doesn’t take much to get people excited,’ Cormier explained. ‘But the real issue? The Americans.’
The Bigger Problem: A Lack of American Talent Across the Board
Cormier’s concern goes beyond the heavyweight division. ‘We don’t have an American in the top 10 pound-for-pound in any weight class,’ he lamented. ‘Justin Gaethje’s interim title is the only belt we have for American males. But we’re going to fix that. We’ll start training some wrestlers.’ This bold statement raises a thought-provoking question: Is the decline of American MMA a result of shifting global talent pools, or is it a failure in the U.S. developmental system?
While there are still plenty of American fighters in the rankings, many are veterans or former champions rather than exciting up-and-coming talents. This has led Cormier to pin his hopes on familiar names, like longtime rival Jon Jones, to bring gold back to the U.S. ‘If Jon Jones fights, I think we have a better chance of seeing him at 205 pounds,’ Cormier speculated. ‘He’s gotten bigger, but I think he can still make the weight.’
But here’s the twist: Jon Jones himself has hinted that his fighting days might be over. In a recent interview, he admitted, ‘I think I could be done.’ This leaves Cormier’s plan in limbo and raises another controversial question: Is the era of American MMA dominance truly over, or can it be revived?
Other Notable Stories in the MMA World
- Confidence: Usman Nurmagomedov believes he could dominate UFC’s best as easily as he did Alfie Davis. But is he underestimating the competition?
- Pause: Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira exchanged bizarre trash talk ahead of UFC Vegas 113, leaving fans both amused and confused.
- Compromised: Oliveira revealed a major injury before his fight with Bautista, sparking debates about fighter health and transparency.
- Brotherhood: Alex Pereira is rooting for former kickboxing rival Dustin Jacoby to climb the UFC rankings. A heartwarming gesture, but will it impact Jacoby’s trajectory?
- Ageless: Veterans Andrei Arlovski and Charles Bennett scored impressive victories at BKFC KnuckleMania 6, proving age is just a number.
Final Thoughts and a Call to Action
UFC Vegas 113 delivered, but let’s ensure fighters like Kyoji Horiguchi get the stage they deserve moving forward. What do you think about Cormier’s plan to revive American MMA dominance? Is it feasible, or is the global MMA landscape too competitive? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a debate!
