UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier actually began his professional fighting career as a heavyweight. When he entered the UFC in 2013, he took two fights in the said division, beating both Frank Mir and Roy Nelson.
DC dropped down to light heavyweight in 2014 and achieved a good amount of success, save for the two losses on his record against Jon Jones. One of the ideas that is being brought up is Cormier moving back up to heavyweight and fighting for the title, and it is a thought that his coach Javier Mendez is actually entertaining as well.
Mendez did clarify that it would also be dependent on Cain Velasquez.
“That’s not far-fetched. It really isn’t, because that could be something that could happen,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “But it would be between DC and Cain, they would make that decision jointly together.”
Mendez reiterated that Cormier’s decision to move away from the heavyweight division was mainly because of Velasquez and to avoid any conflict. But at the same time, he believes that the two men would be able to sort things out.
“With everything DC is, he’s a team player,” Mendez said of his fighter. “And DC, remember you guys, DC was a great heavyweight and he dropped to light heavyweight not because he had to drop, because of respect for Cain. That’s the only reason why he dropped, because of respect for Cain, not because he couldn’t get that title at heavyweight. No, it’s his respect for Cain, it’s the only reason DC dropped.”
“So being that that’s the case, you have to understand, anything that happens, it’s going to be between those two guys respectfully, because that’s the kind of person DC is, and a lot of people do not ever give that man the credit he deserves.”
After a lengthy layoff due to a back injury, Velasquez had recently been back in training and hopes to “make a long sustained run” upon his return, which has yet to be determined.