Cormier Responds to Derrick Lewis’ Edmonton Insult
Derrick Lewis’s sharp comments about Daniel Cormier at Edmonton media day on October 30, 2024, mixed an insult with a joke about Popeyes. Cormier said he was surprised and wondered whether his earlier criticism of Lewis’s performances and retirement talk had caused lasting resentment. He did not claim to know Lewis’s motive.
What Lewis said
Asked about fights he still wanted, Lewis named Cormier and used profane language to describe him. He then joked that Cormier had disrespected Popeyes chicken. The exchange came six years after the heavyweights fought for the title in 2018, where Cormier submitted Lewis in the second round.
Cormier’s response was speculation
Speaking with Ariel Helwani the same day, Cormier said he had not seen Lewis recently. He recalled being critical when Lewis had lost several bouts and had discussed retirement, and suggested that could be part of the explanation. That was Cormier’s theory; Lewis did not publicly confirm it in the exchange.
Lewis’s Edmonton bout was later canceled
Lewis was scheduled to meet Jhonata Diniz on November 2, 2024. The promotion later announced that the heavyweight bout was canceled because of a medical issue unrelated to weight cutting. That cancellation kept Lewis and Cormier from crossing paths at the event.
Sources
- MMA Fighting report on Lewis’s comments and Cormier’s response
- The Ariel Helwani Show interview with Daniel Cormier
- Official notice canceling Lewis vs. Diniz
Tags: MMA, Combat Sports
