[Curnow:] Here's some sports news for us. We don't have that a lot, do we these days? 41-year-old, Daniel Cormier will have the final fight of his career in the UFC on Saturday. Now the former two-time division world champion has only lost twice in his legendary career. And one of those losses was to the man he will face this weekend. So World Sports Don Riddell spoke with him about this upcoming match. Don?
[Daniel Cormier, Former Heavyweight Champion:] It's good, but it is also it's sad a bit. Right? Everybody's time comes to an end. And I don't think you ever made a professional athlete that truly wants to walk away. But you have to understand that there is a time for everything. You know, I'm 41 years old. You know I get to fight the heavyweight championship of the world. And I couldn't have imagined going out with a better situation to become a champion again. So, it's a bittersweet, but, I think when you start thinking negative is when you become overwhelmed with sadness. I look forward to the next chapter, which I believe is going to be just as big as this one.
[Don Riddell, Cnn Correspondent:] Connor MacGregor retires all the time, and comes back all the time. So, is this definitely it for you?
[Cormier:] Yes, this will be it for me. You know, I'm not one of those guys that wants to go and come, go and come, go and come. At 31 years old, Connor can do that. You know, you can't do that when you are in your forties now. You know, you have to make a decision, and you stand firm with it.
[Riddell:] What do you think you are going to miss the most about this life that you've had now for so long?
[Cormier:] It's when you walk through the curtain. And there's 20,000 people in the arena just yelling, just screaming and going crazy. That energy is something that you will never be able to recreate, no matter what you do with the rest of your life. But I will miss that energy of being a fighter. The fight weeks, the buildup's, all these things that you take for granted while you're in it. You miss it whenever you are done.
[Riddell:] How much time have you given, in the last few years, to what your last flight is going to be like and feel like?
[Cormier:] Let me tell you something. I may have played out 1,000 scenarios. This was not one of them. Even in the midst of a pandemic with no fans fighting at the UFC Apex, in a 25 foot cage? That was the one thing I could have never imagined. I will be able to bask in the adoration of the fans. And that's OK. You know, because I've had that for 24 fights. You know, I've been able to compete in front of people. This time, I go do it with my army, with the soldier that I went to war with my coaches and we go capture another championship.
[Riddell:] So, this will be the final fight in a trilogy with Steve [inaudible]. Obviously, you know your opponent very, very well. Based on what has gone before, what are you expecting this time around?
[Cormier:] You know, I think that he's' going to come out and try to implement some of the same things that he did in the second fight that were successful for him. But I do anticipate some changes. You know, nobody tries to approach two fights in the same way. So, I expect him to change some things up, but I expect the hungry, strong, refreshed opponent in the Octagon on Saturday night.
[Riddell:] How often do you think about the way the second fight was going? Because you were looking good, right. And then it didn't end in your favor. Do you have any regrets about that?
[Cormier:] I do. You know, I mean, I think we regret a lot of things in life. You know I regret not being more prepared for the fight, for the long fight. I regret not keeping my hands up and fighting smart. You know, I regret going away from the game plan that my coaches set in front of me. You know, I was winning the fight, and it gave me confidence going into the third one.
[Curnow:] Thanks to Don Riddell for that report. Well, thanks for joining me, wherever you are in the world, I hope you have a beautiful day. I'm Robyn Curnow. I'm going to hand you over to Kim, right now. Enjoy.