"When He’s Retired?” - Islam Makhachev Roasts Daniel Cormier For Not Making His Son Compete
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Islam Makhachev was ready to call out Daniel Cormier on his claims after the former two-division champ said his son was a good wrestler. Makhachev immediately asked him why he's not competing yet.
The American Kickboxing Academy brotherhood has produced some of the greatest champions in UFC history, but it has also delivered some of the most entertaining banter in combat sports. The long-running dynamic between former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier and reigning welterweight king Islam Makhachev is pure comedy gold, and their latest exchange did not disappoint.
During a recent run-in, Cormier decided to hype up his teenage son’s wrestling chops, boldly claiming his boy is excelling on the mats without needing overseas intervention.
“My son is very good at wrestling without even sending him to Dagestan,” Cormier claimed.
Makhachev, known for his deadpan delivery and sharp wit, wasn’t buying the hype for a single second.
“How do you know he’s good? I say my son is good too, and he hasn’t been to any tournaments,” Makhachev fired back.
Backed into a corner, Cormier quickly retreated, admitting, “Well… he isn’t that good, but he’s gonna come next year.”
That was the breaking point for the lightweight champion, who couldn't help but call out Cormier’s endless delays: “Every year you say ‘next year.’ He’s 15 now. When are you gonna send him, when he’s retired?”
The Legend of the “2-3 Years Dagestan” Prescription
This isn’t the first time Dagestan has been pitched for Cormier’s son. For years, both Makhachev and UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov have insisted that Cormier leave his boy in the mountains of the North Caucasus to forge him into an unstoppable wrestler.
The advice eventually birthed one of MMA’s most iconic running jokes: “Send him to Dagestan for 2-3 years and forget.”
What started as AKA locker room teasing quickly grew into a massive combat sports meme. Makhachev and his team have playfully prescribed a trip to Dagestan to everyone from struggling UFC contenders to former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua to help fix their ground games. The phrase even spilled over into mainstream culture, with athletes across various professional leagues adopting the line.
Cormier himself has regularly praised the distinct lifestyle and grueling work ethic that make Dagestani fighters a dominant force inside the Octagon. Yet, despite all the recommendations from Nurmagomedov and Makhachev, Cormier continues to keep his son close to home.
Whether the younger Cormier ever steps foot in a Dagestani wrestling room remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Makhachev won't let DC hear the end of it until he does.
