‘I cannot put him at number one’ – Muhammad Ali ranked below Khabib Nurmagomedov on Daniel Cormier’s list of all-time great fighters

Daniel Cormier has controversially ranked Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of Muhammad Ali on his list of all-time great fighters.

The former dual-weight UFC champion appeared on ESPN’s First Take ahead of UFC 281 and revealed the five fighters [MMA and boxing] he believes are the best ever.

Nurmagomedov is the former UFC lightweight champion who retired from MMA in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record which is rare for anyone competing in the sport.

However, he only made three defences of his 155lb title and in the eyes of some MMA fans has not done enough to cement his legacy among the best UFC fighters, never mind combat sports as a whole.

Meanwhile, Ali is regarded by many boxing fans as ‘The Greatest’ after a legendary career that saw him defeat the likes of Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, and George Foreman.

Despite that, Cormier says he rates Floyd Mayweather and ‘The Eagle’ above Ali and attempted to explain his reasons to his exasperated co-host, Stephen A Smith.

"At number three, this is where you might disagree with me, Muhammad Ali, he said prompting a hysterical reaction from Smith who couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“One of the greatest boxers of all-time, what he did transcended the sport. But here is the difference, he was a pillar of our community.

"He did so many things outside of the boxing ring, and I think at times, that is why we elevate him to the greatest boxer of all time.

Smith angrily intervened: "Beating Joe Frazier, beating George Foreman, The Thrilla in Manila, Rumble in the Jungle. Are you kidding me?"

But Cormier stood firm and defended his list: “I get it, but I reserved the top of my list for the undefeated. Muhammad Ali was not undefeated. I cannot put him at number one.”

“At number two, we go to 29-0, ‘The Eagle of Dagestan’ - Khabib Nurmagomedov.

"Khabib is sensational, he could’ve defended that belt for as long as he wanted. The way that he beat Conor McGregor was second to none.

"And at number one. We've just got to go to Las Vegas. Floyd 'Money' Mayweather! At [50-0] this guy is the greatest fighter of all time, the greatest boxer of all time, and the greatest promoter.

“Everybody was talking about he beat Canelo when he wasn’t ready, he beat Manny Pacquiao [when he was old] but it doesn't matter when he beat them, they all got beat." 

Two weight UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Amanda Nunes round off Cormier’s top five fighters of all time list, which is already sparking debate among fans of both sports.