Former UFC two-division champion Daniel Cormier shared a humorous anecdote involving Cain Velasquez, recalling a moment when Velasquez submitted him, likening it to a long nap.
Daniel Cormier is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes to have stepped into the octagon, having captured the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight championships. During his active career, Cormier trained at the renowned American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) gym.
The AKA gym has produced numerous notable champions, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Leon Edwards, BJ Penn, Luke Rockhold, and Cormier’s close friend, Cain Velasquez.
Cormier and Velasquez share such a strong bond that they never agreed to face each other inside the octagon. Although they never competed against one another professionally, in the past, they would train together and engage in extensive sparring sessions.
During a recent episode of the DC & RC podcast, Cormier recounted a funny incident involving Velasquez.
On one occasion, the former heavyweight champion successfully put Cormier in a submission and put him to sleep during a sparring session. Cormier, who had never been submitted throughout his long MMA career, described the sensation of being rendered unconscious.
“Defending against a choke is the worst feeling in the world. Ironically, when you actually get choked out, sometimes it can be a relief. I’ll tell you one thing, when you come to after being choked out, it feels like you’ve just experienced the longest and most tranquil nap of your entire life. In reality, you’re only unconscious for a few seconds, but it genuinely feels like you’ve had a lengthy slumber,” Cormier explained.
He went on to share, “It’s crazy! One time, Cain choked me out, man. When I woke up, I was like, ‘What happened?’ and he was like, ‘Bro, you fell asleep!’ I responded, ‘Well, I actually feel refreshed!'”
Daniel Cormier retired from professional fighting in 2020, concluding his career with a record of 22 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no-contest. His losses came at the hands of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. At the age of 44, Cormier currently works as a UFC commentator, hosts a podcast, and continues to train at the AKA gym.
