UFC legend Daniel Cormier once ranked MMA GOAT above Muhammad Ali in his all-time fighters list

Daniel Cormier once gave a top-five all-time great fighters list, which caused a stir.

The UFC legend has been a commentator and analyst since he retired from the sport in 2020, in a career that was most notable for his feud against fellow light heavyweight Jon Jones.

DC is now considered one of MMA’s all-time greats, with his wins over Anderson Silva and Alexander Gustafsson being highlights of his illustrious career.

But in 2022, he was the one making his best-of-all-time list of fighters from across MMA and boxing during his appearance on ESPN First Take.

Daniel Cormier ranks a 29-0 UFC GOAT over Muhammad Ali

When asked by host Stephen A. Smith who he would put in his top five list, he provided a slightly surprising ranking.

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr
2. Khabib Nurmagomedov
3. Muhammad Ali
4. George St-Pierre
5. Amanda Nunes

Floyd Mayweather and Dagestan’s Khabib Nurmagomedov took the two top spots over Muhammad Ali, which Smith had initially lambasted.

When asked to explain his decision, the former champion said: “(Ali) One of the greatest boxers of all time, what he did transcended sport, but here is the difference, Stephen A., he was a pillar of our community.

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

“I reserve the top of my list for the undefeated at the top of my list.”

His decision to put Mayweather despite wins against a young Canelo Alvarez and a Manny Pacquiao fight, which came too late in both men’s careers, was because he ‘beat everyone’ put in front of him.

A second spot for Nurmagomedov was due to his performance against Conor McGregor and his dominance in the lightweight division before his retirement from the Octagon.

Amanda Nunes at number five may be an odd choice to many, but the world championship-winning freestyle wrestler believed the ‘greatest women’s fighter of all time’ deserved a spot on the list.

Recently, the Louisiana fighter has backed the current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who may become an MMA great, from comments made by Michael Bisping on his selection of opponents for his next fight.

Bisping compared Topuria to Jon Jones because he believes he is avoiding the top contender, Arman Tsarukyan.

But in a video on Cormier’s YouTube channel, the fighter rebutted the comments made by ‘The Count’ when he said: “Michael, Paul, I understand the frustration. But Mike, you were on the championship side. You know when you were getting ready to fight Dan Henderson.

“But if there was a bigger fight for you – Georges St-Pierre, for that matter – you took it, even though Yoel Romero, at the time, Mike, was probably the more justified No. 1 contender.

“The bigger fight was GSP, and you took it. I get the frustration, but think about the champion’s side, too.”

It is unknown who or when ‘El Matador’ will fight next, with opponents such as Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje also rumoured to be next in line over Tsarukyan.