“We’re Still Stuck With the Same Five Guys”: Daniel Cormier Expresses Disappointment Following UFC 286 Results

UFC welterweight star Justin Gaethje dominated up-and-coming fighter Rafael Fiziev in his UFC 286 win. He was awarded his seventh ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus after grabbing a unanimous decision win. However, UFC 286 broadcast member Daniel Cormier believes that the lightweight division is repeatedly showcasing the same fighters.

‘The Highlight’ showcased immense power in the punches that he landed on Fiziev, which saw him dominate the second and third rounds of the fight. Rafael Fiziev won the respect of Justin Gaethje as he showed a great deal of heart during the fight. Moreover, ‘The Highlight’ claims that he has one more title run in him and is not going to be in the UFC for much longer.

Justin Gaethje previously lost his fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 274. People felt as if he may be approaching the twilight years of his MMA career. But his dominant performance inside the octagon in London proved otherwise. However, during the post-fight discussion panel, Daniel Cormier addressed Gaethje’s decision to aim for one more title shot.

Daniel Cormier addresses the same guys fighting each other in the lightweight division

The lightweight division of the UFC is perhaps the most stacked division in the promotion. Moreover, Cormier has expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that the same fighters keep fighting each other despite the number of fighters in the division. He said, “I think that’s the only problem, with that whole five-person thing that they’ve been doing.” Cormier added, “Because if one goes and beats one of the others, it’s like ‘Well, we’ve already seen this.”

DC also mentioned that Gaethje’s win has potentially severed the opportunities that upcoming fighters like Rafael Fiziev would have gotten. He said, “I think Justin [Gaethje] tonight, closed the door on someone that was supposed to break through to kind of mix it up a little bit. Because [Rafael] Fiziev was going to be a new entrant into that little quad. Now he’s out, so we’re still stuck with the same five guys.”

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Cormier also stressed on Beneil Dariush‘s upcoming fight against former champion Charles Oliveira. He wonders what would happen if he lost to the Brazilian. DC believes that a loss against the former champion would bring Dariush back to the place where he started from. He wants to see more fighters come up in the division.

What are your thoughts? Do you prefer seeing the same guys fight over and over again, or do you want to witness fresh faces in the division? Let us know in the comments below.

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