Daniel Cormier is still without an opponent for the Strikeforce event on Nov. 3 after former UFC champion Frank Mir was forced to withdraw from the bout with an injury last month.
However, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion has someone in mind, as he called out standout striker Pat Barry.
.@danawhite offer the fight to @hypeordie he’s from Louisiana like me. He will take the fight. Let’s do it!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 30, 2012
Over the weekend, following UFC Live: Struve vs. Miocic, UFC president Dana White informed MMAJunkie.com that popular heavyweight Matt Mitrione turned down the opportunity to be Mir’s replacement. Mitrione instead is pining for a fight with Quinton (Rampage) Jackson, even though Jackson competes at light-heavyweight.
“It (expletive) makes me sick,” White said. “Listen, you don’t want big opportunities, I hear you. I get it, then. All I can say is, I guess he doesn’t want big opportunities. I get it. Duly noted.
“He wants to fight a guy who weighs 205, but doesn’t want to fight the guy who’s the real heavyweight, the legitimate guy who’s ranked. And Mitrione’s not getting any younger.”
Another name that has been thrown out there as an option for Cormier is Fabricio Werdum, a current top contender in the UFC who fought four times in Strikeforce between 2009 and 2011.
“Cormier will fight anybody,” White added. “The guys who are the real guys fight anybody, man. They’ll fight anybody.”
Also on that Nov. 3 card at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City is a middleweight title bout between Luke Rockhold and Lorenz Larkin, 185-pounders Tim Kennedy and Trevor Smith lock horns, and Liz Carmouche takes on unbeaten Sara McMann in a featured women’s bantamweight tilt.
Cormier, the former captain of the U.S. Olympic wrestling team, is 10-0 in MMA and considered one of best heavyweights in the sport. He has wins over the likes of Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett.
UFC and Strikeforce brass have just over one month to find an opponent for him although options are limited right now due to injuries and fighters having fights already lined up.
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Who do you think Daniel Cormier should fight?
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