Last week, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier stirred up some drama when he called former foe Anthony Johnson “f**king soft” because of Johnson’s cordial relationship with Jon Jones. Johnson took offense and responded to Cormier, calling him a “cry baby ass” and saying that he and Cormier were never friends. Then Cormier got wind of Johnson’s response and suddenly the makings of a trilogy fight, possibly outside of the cage, were in play.

Not anymore though. Cormier recently told MMAJunkie Radio that after speaking with some friends and with the benefit of some distance from the beef, he realizes that he was at fault for the situation, and he walked back his statements calling “Rumble” soft.

“After Rumble put that post up, I tweeted him, but then I texted him because I was mad, like, ‘I’m mad. I want to fight.’ The reality is, I texted him and I said some things that weren’t very cool, but then I was talking to somebody that means a lot to me and they said, ‘Why are you so mad? You started it. You said stuff and you’re mad at him.’

“So the reality is, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have called him soft. I didn’t like the action but why do I expect so much out of him? Why do I expect him to not be able to be respectful and still compete at the highest level of the sport?

“So I walk it back a little bit. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything about him being soft. Everybody does not have to view competition like I do and I think that’s why – if he wants to be friends with [Jon] and be nice and cordial, then fine. What does that matter to me?”

Johnson is currently embroiled in rumors of a return to fighting after his unexpected retirement following his loss to Cormier at UFC 210 in April. Johnson retired from fighting to pursue a business in medical marijuana but Ali Abdel-Aziz, Johnson’s manager, recently told The MMA Hour that Johnson would be meeting with the UFC to discuss a possible return to fighting, this time as a heavyweight. And despite their recent unpleasantness, Cormier says that he hopes the rumors are true.

“I said it before: I hope he comes back because he should be fighting. He’s that good; but it was just so quick. . . It just seemed like he should have taken a little more time in regards to making that decision, but who am I to pick when he retires? I’ve just got a different way of viewing stuff, man. I guess that’s why I am who I am.”

In the end, Cormier believes that “different way of viewing stuff” was the genesis of this beef with a retired fighter he already beat twice, something that he says was beneath him. And never one to shy away from harsh truths, Cormier offered a sincere apology to Johnson and offered to make amends.

“I need to talk to Rumble and try to either apologize or make it right in some way, shape, or form. The reality is, I was wrong. Not everybody should view competition like I do. So to Anthony Johnson, I apologize. I should not have said that. I should not have said that. I should not have said that and because I said it, I have to truly expect him to respond and he did and because he responded, I should not try to fight him in the streets of Las Vegas. I’ve got to be better than that.”

MUST-READ STORIES

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Beer. The UFC has signed a new sponsorship deal with Modelo, replacing Bud Light.

Mouse trap. Demetrious Johnson “wanted to prove a point” against Ray Borg.

McNuggets. Tony Ferguson to Conor McGregor: “I will haunt your f**king dreams.”

Release. Ian McCall has been granted his release from the UFC.

VIDEO STEW

The official trailer for UFC 217.

The Pancrase weigh-in everyone is talking about.

DJ on TMZ.

Chael giving DJ some tips on how to sell more.

LISTEN UP

Bushido Talk. UFC 216 afterthoughts.

The Co-Main Event. Discussing the greatness of Mighty Mouse.

Anik & Florian. UFC 216 recap plus Ray Longo joins.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

DJ.

Thank you to my coaches and teammates for helping me achieve this accomplishment in my career. It has been a long journey and there is still much more to achieve. Also couldn’t have done this without an amazing support system at home. Thank you to my beautiful @mightywife for always holding it down at home. You are the most important piece my love. #andstill #recordbreaker #behumble A post shared by Demetrious Johnson (@mightymouse125) on Oct 9, 2017 at 7:42am PDT

The struggle is real.

Never struggle with Mondays the way @DC_MMA struggles with audio cords ..



pic.twitter.com/Pd7qYv7q4y — UFC (@ufc) October 9, 2017

Brooks.

With my track record of being open and honest. If I didn't get paid I'd be the first to say something. So don't believe everything you see https://t.co/QJDO7wuPiW — Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) October 9, 2017

DC back in the booth for 217.

I am !!!!! NYC baby https://t.co/6bV8uGVZDE — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 9, 2017

Good stuff.

Saki does not lack confidence, that’s for sure.

Goddard on weight cutting.

In relation to the post earlier on the example of weight cutting I felt a little compelled to make my own personal views... Posted by Marc Goddard on Monday, October 9, 2017

Shameless.

I want to take a moment and thank @kadyrov_95 and @akhmat_mma team @vismuradov_95_ for the amazing support they have given me and always supporting me and I'm glad to be MMA ambassador for #chechnya A post shared by Fabricio Werdum (@werdum) on Oct 9, 2017 at 1:37pm PDT

WTF?

This isn't weird at all pic.twitter.com/AzmMU5oYdH — Alan Belcher (@alanbelcherufc) October 9, 2017

Ronda appears to be happy in her marriage.

at #ACLfest with my handsome husband @travisbrownemma watching @brothersosborne - our whole trip to Austin with the @maxeffortmuscle team is coming soon to RondaRousey.com #itwashot #itwasworthit A post shared by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Oct 9, 2017 at 9:31am PDT

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gokhan Saki (1-1) vs. Khalil Rountree (6-2); UFC 219, Dec. 30.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2006: Tito Ortiz beat up Ken Shamrock for the third and final time at UFC Fight Night 6.5.

2009: Ben Henderson won the interim WEC lightweight title at WEC 43 when he won a unanimous decision over Donald Cerrone.

2014: Joe Warren unified the Bellator bantamweight titles when he won a unanimous decision over Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 128.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Wow. 69% of you think Demetrious Johnson is the GOAT. I’m not disagreeing I just did not expect it to be that high of a percentage. Mighty Mouse moved on up in the world after that submission, I guess.

Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.

EXIT POLL

Poll Will Conor McGregor and Georges St-Pierre fight each other? This poll is closed. 32% Yes (275 votes)

67% No (574 votes) 849 votes total Vote Now

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