Daniel Cormier has weighed in on the long-running MMA vs boxing debate after watching Canelo Alvarez take on Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
The September 13 showdown at Allegiant Stadium, streamed globally on Netflix, saw Crawford jump two weight classes to defeat Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight title. The bout was hailed as boxing at its finest, with high stakes, star power and historic implications.
But while acknowledging the quality of the fight, Cormier admitted he found more enjoyment earlier in the evening watching Noche UFC in San Antonio, where Diego Lopes beat Jean Silva in a card celebrating Mexican Independence Day.
“After watching ‘Bud’ fight Canelo, which was a good fight, I realize more and more that MMA is just a much funner sport,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “We didn’t have the name recognition on Noche UFC, but I had a much better time watching the MMA fights. It wasn’t a boring fight, but MMA was just much more fun.”
Cormier added that boxing can feel “ridiculous” at times, pointing to fights like Gervonta Davis vs Jake Paul as examples of spectacle overshadowing competition.
The former UFC champion also questioned Dana White’s ambitious plan to revive boxing with the launch of Zuffa Boxing in 2026. White has promised a Contender Series-style format where undefeated fighters face each other early in their careers.
“Most boxers don’t start seeing real competition until 18, 19, 20-0,” Cormier said on ESPN’s Good Guy/Bad Guy. “Dana wants these guys to fight each other much sooner. I don’t know if you can apply that to boxing. Boxing is just different.”
