Daniel Cormier won’t just be sitting cage-side to call the fights on July 19.
While there have been some heated interactions between several UFC 318 fighters, the main event has been unsurprisingly respectful.
Fight week has been emotional for Dustin Poirier as he prepares to ride off into the sunset following one last UFC fight against Max Holloway.
With Holloway being more than ready to play the villain in front of his opponent’s home fans, the reception for ‘The Diamond’ is going to be worth the price of admission alone.
Cormier will be playing a huge role on Saturday night following the news that Joe Rogan won’t be in attendance to call the action in New Orleans.
- READ MORE: Dustin Poirier predicted to win at UFC 318 by legend who’s ‘never picked against’ Max Holloway
Daniel Cormier is bracing himself for interviewing Dustin Poirier inside the Octagon at UFC 318
With Joe Rogan seemingly occupied by a family vacation, Paul Felder will be taking his place in the booth to join Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik on commentary.
Rogan’s absence also means that it will be Cormier’s responsibility to step inside the Octagon at the end of each bout to interview the fighters and give them their moment on the mic.
With that in mind, ‘DC’ is preparing himself for what is sure to be an emotional end to the night regardless of what happens in the main event.
As a fellow native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Cormier has been closely connected to Dustin Poirier for many years and has called some of his most remarkable fights from cage-side.
The UFC Hall of Famer recently spoke in an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn about why he’s expecting UFC 318 to be his toughest task to date as a commentator as he plays a big part in the final chapter of Poirier’s career.
“I had to do some pretty emotional ones before my career but I think this one will probably be the hardest because I met Dustin way back after I beat Jeff Monson in like 2011 in Dallas. I ran into him at a gym in Lafayette and to see what he’s become, it’s outstanding.”
Daniel Cormier is excited to watch Dustin Poirier experience something that he never got
With UFC 318 being the promotion’s return to Louisiana after a decade, the UFC moved their schedule around to give Dustin Poirier the perfect send-off.
‘The Diamond’ previously fought in front of his home fans in 2015 where he knocked out Yancy Medeiros, but he wasn’t the same beloved legend back then that he is today.
During the interview, Daniel Cormier spoke about how he never got the opportunity to fight in Louisiana during his incredible UFC career.
‘DC’ is looking forward to watching Poirier receive this opportunity now that he has cemented himself as a modern-day great.
“Dustin fought there in 2015 when I was supposed to fight Ryan Bader, but he wasn’t there yet, right? He wasn’t quite the star that he needed to be to truly feel what fighting in Louisiana could mean. He’s gonna feel that now. It’s going to be absolute madness.
“I mean, the fact that this guy still lives at home. Born and raised there, represents Lafayette in the way that he does, it’s special. I didn’t get that.”