Daniel Cormier isn't thrilled with what ctitics are saying about UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Carlos Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) went off on Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) for not fighting him on Jan. 30 at UFC 336 (Paramount+) as was originally planned. Instead, Prates will now face Michael Morales (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the interim title in the UFC 336 co-main event.
A longtime teammate and friend of Makhachev's, UFC Hall of Famer Cormier argues that most champions aren't that active and considering Makhachev just defended his belt against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August, the criticism isn't warranted.
"Yes, Carlos Prates is frustrated, but on the other hand you have a champion – a long-reigning champion that recognizes the dangers
of who he's going to fight and the dangers of what's at stake every time he does fight," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "Now I know people are going to say, 'Well, DC, of course you're going to defend Islam.' It's not about defending him. I'm giving you an inside perspective of a champion's mindset and what you feel whenever you have these opportunities.
"I listed those champions, but you can go down the line, and you will find more champions than not that are not Merab Dvalishvili fighting every single weekend. Islam's not afraid, though. He's not afraid. He'd probably fight Carlos Prates in the octagon, outside the octagon, in wrestling. He'd fight him anywhere. So would Prates. This is going be a great fight. Prates needs to handle the Morales issue, though. I would encourage him to forget about Islam right now, because you don't get to him unless you get through Morales. Forget about him."
Makhachev, 35, hinted that the end is near. He said his next fight against the winner of Prates and Morales will be one of the last of his career.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Daniel Cormier: Islam Makhachev not afraid of Carlos Prates, 'would fight him anywhere'
