Daniel Cormier says it was a business decision that prevented him from fighting Brock Lesnar.
In 2018, Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic to become the UFC heavyweight champion. It was the crowning moment of his MMA career, as Cormier had finally won a title outside of the shadow of Jon Jones. And it nearly became an even bigger moment for Cormier, because after the bout, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar entered the ring and shoved Cormier, setting up a superfight between the two.
Ultimately, that fight never came to fruition, and instead, Cormier defended his title against Derrick Lewis, and speaking with fans during a recent Q&A video posted to his YouTube channel, Cormier explained why.
“Man, I wanted that so bad,” Cormier said. “You know Brock Lesnar, I know him because we both wrestled in junior college in the same year, and he wrestled at Minnesota the same year I was at Oklahoma State.
”I was at my daughter’s gymnastics [event], and I get a random number on my phone. And I go, ‘Hello, who is this?’
”‘It’s Brock.’
”I say, ‘What’s up, Brock? What the f*ck are you calling me for?’
”‘I hear you’re fighting that big white boy.’
”I said, ‘Stipe?’
”He said, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘You knock him out, it’s going to be Christmas early for your family because we’re going to fight.’
”‘I was like, ‘Shit, OK, Brock.’
”Then, even at UFC 200, he called me and goes, he literally sent me a message and said, ‘Merry Christmas, DC. I’m on UFC 200.’ I was like, yes, [because] every time Brock fought, it was over a million pay-per-views.
“It didn’t happen because the WWE gave him too much money, and he made the right choice. You talk about a man that money follows, it’s Brock Lesnar. He’s done really well for himself. I’m proud of him.”
And while an actual fight between Lesnar and Cormier would have likely favored Cormier heavily, “DC” did allow that when they had their brief in-cage interaction, he was shocked at how strong Lesnar was.
“He pushed me,” Cormier said. “He was strong. I tried to push him back, because I thought he pushed me soft, but he didn’t even move. I was like, I’m trying not to push too hard, and he didn’t even move. It was crazy.”
Brock would’ve ragdolled DC
I’m not so sure of that.
I don’t think they would have even wrestled they might have had a scramble or two at the beginning but I think DC’s right hand over the top would put lesnar down
If Brock is hurting DC then Brock gets a low blow or eye poke until DC recovers 
Brock didn’t like getting punched in the face, but I don’t see DC punishing him more than Carwin. DC is a stud, Brock is a force of nature.
Brock all day IMO.
DC is no Couture
Randy Couture versus Daniel Cormier?
Who’s your money on?
Although carwin was stronger DC was definitely the better athlete
Way more intelligent than carwin too
DC was not a joke man
I really think only Jon Jones gets the nod consistently over DC
I would put DC over couture
The reason I put DC over couture is I think DC is naturally a better athlete I think they can both go into deep water wrestling with each other but DC is going to have a more complete striking arsenal
I’m not discounting DC in any way, but unless he hit the magic button, there’s no way he could drop Brock IMO after seeing how much punishment that man endured.
Seems to me Brock didnt like getting hit and not sure if he could handle DC.
Coutures dirty boxing in the clinch favors him IMO. DC could take him down and GNP.
DC V Couture and Brock V Fedor are the two fights I wish would’ve went down.
Fedor V Barnett also.
Nobody likes getting hit in the face.
Everyone has a plan..
I already stated before that Brock didn’t know how to react properly, yet he endured seemingly insurmountable punishment from Carwin and took the W.
I dont think DC could put a beating on Brock like Carwin did.
He couldn’t. But Carwin blew his wad early trying to finish Brock. DC has a better fight IQ than Carwin.
Would be a different fight completely.
If we were just looking at Brocks first fights I’d agree.
But then we saw him fight Cain and Alistair.
Brock is 5-3 in the UFC
Yep.. and that was also a much younger hungrier Brock.
We started seeing that fade a lot in his last real fights.
And I don’t blame him. He was getting paid great money for not much in ring work from the WWE.