How Daniel Cormier finally overcame his obsession with being a champion
Daniel Cormier would be the first person to tell you that his constant pursuit of being a champion has consumed almost his entire adult life.
Whether he was wrestling at Oklahoma State University, competing for the United States in the Olympics or fighting in mixed martial arts, Cormier was a monomaniac about being the best of the best in his chosen sport, but at some point or another, that desire turned toxic.
Cormier spoke at length before his fight with Jon Jones back in February about his lust for gold and how winning the UFC title might help make up for the weight-cutting disaster back in 2008 that cost him a chance at competing in the Olympics. When he didn't win, Cormier's emotions got the best of him because it felt like he came up just short once again.
When Cormier got the call to face Anthony Johnson at UFC 187, the vicious cycle of his own self-worth being determined by championships started to haunt him again, but a call to an old friend and coach helped right the ship ahead of what may very well be his best chance to win a UFC championship.
"The other day I was talking to the greatest wrestler in American history and the greatest coach of all time, the legend that is John Smith, head coach at Oklahoma State University, and I said, 'Coach, I've got to win this one,' and he was like, 'Daniel, you don't have to do anything. You want to win, but if you don't, I'll put your resume in athletics against anybody in the world and feel pretty damn proud of you. You don't have to do nothing," Cormier said to FOX Sports on Thursday.
Hearing those words from his coach put Cormier's mind at ease for maybe the first time in 20 years. Only from a person like Smith, whom Cormier loves and admires, could he finally understand that the things he's accomplished are already amazing and becoming a champion isn't something he needs to be fulfilled in his life.
Becoming a champion is something Cormier wants, and differentiating between those two desires made all the difference to him ahead of UFC 187 and his fight with Anthony Johnson.
"In that statement, I said, 'Coach, you're right. I don't have to win Saturday. I want to win,'" Cormier said. "I want to win for myself, for my family and to accomplish this goal, but I don't have to do nothing. I just have to go out and compete to the best of my ability and go out and represent my family, this organization, my sponsors, my team and everybody close to me as good as I can. I don't have to do nothing."
Cormier said that the stress he put on himself before the Olympics and the title fight with Jones in January started to creep up on him again before he had the conversation with Smith recently.
A thirst for greatness is something every champion possesses, but Cormier allowed it to invade his mind and it began eating away at him. Now that he has a new approach to his fight this weekend, Cormier said he's finally been cured.
"I was doing the same thing to myself: 'I have to win this because it might be the last chance.' I don't have to do nothing," Cormier said.
"This is the first time in a long time I've actually felt like this. I don't have to win. Am I gonna win? Yes. But I don't have to. I want to win. I feel so great right now. I'm at ease with everything. I'm sleeping better. It just feels great."
