Islam Makhachev believes Daniel Cormier’s eating habit is a ‘big problem’.
The UFC champion, like many MMA fans, has found the funny side of Cormier’s unhealthy habit.
Cormier, 45, went viral in 2023 for munching on snacks while performing his usual commentary duties during UFC 291, which was headlined by Dustin Poirier‘s rematch with Justin Gaethje.
At the time, the UFC Hall of Famer defended his approach by shifting the blame to his co-commentator Joe Rogan.
“Rogan brings these snacks every time bro,” Cormier said. “He brings this beef jerky, so we sit there and eat it.
“We eat popcorn, we sit there for seven and a half hours. I love that guy [Max Holloway], but that guy’s constantly taking shots at me.”
Now, UFC lightweight champion Makhachev, 33, is the latest MMA star to take a shot at ‘DC’.
“You know, I really believe if he ate clean all his life he would still be fighting,” he told Shakiel Mahjouri.
“But this guy eats…He’s not eating, he’s promoting, you know, they promote fast food and all this stuff.
“A couple of months ago, he put some video about fast food. I said: ‘Stop, you don’t have to eat this because you’re so big now, you know?
“This is the big problem, because look at Cristiano Ronaldo, how old he is, but he’s still in very good shape.
“Food is a very important thing if you want to be in shape and fighting, for any sport.
“It’s the number one important thing.”
Makhachev made his UFC debut 10 years ago and was crowned a champion for the first time in 2022.
He submitted Charlies Oliveira at UFC 280 in his 11th successive victory in Dana White‘s promotion and has defended his belt in three subsequent bouts since.
The 33-year-old beat Alexander Volkanovski twice in 2023, winning the second bout far more convincingly than the first after knocking the Australian out with a brutal head kick.
Makhachev then faced Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in July and submitted in him the final few minutes of their five-round bout to make it three title defences in a row.
He now faces Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 on January 19 in a rematch of their 2019 encounter, which Makhachev won by unanimous decision.
Cormier was also caught commentating with food in his mouth in a September episode of his podcast, Good Guy / Bad Guy, with fellow UFC legend Chael Sonnen.
However, ‘DC’ had the perfect explanation for Sonnen, who could not believe what he was seeing.
“Chael, you have to have popcorn because you’re sitting in the best seat in the house,” he responded.
“What I did not expect was the replay to come….why do I need to control myself, I’m living my best life out here Chael P.”
Sonnen couldn’t help himself and erupted into laughter at his co-host.
But he did see some logic in what Cormier was saying, as he does sit in the best seats in the house.