Luke Rockhold gives update on teammate Daniel Cormier after UFC 214

The world hasn’t heard much from Daniel Cormier since his battle with Jon Jones ended in disappointment at UFC 214. Nearly three years after losing to Jones via unanimous decision, Cormier suffered a vicious third-round knockout loss in the rematch to drop his UFC light heavyweight title last month in Anaheim, Calif.

The fight meant a lot to Cormier. His reign as UFC light heavyweight champion lasted close to three years while Jones dealt with a variety of issues that prevented him from competing in the sport. Over that time, Cormier solidified his legacy as one of the greatest 205-pound fighters in history, as well as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters of his era. But a win over Jones would have been life changing, and Cormier has understandably been taking things slow since UFC 214.

“He’s sulking a bit, but his spirits are coming back,” Cormier’s teammate at the American Kickboxing Academy, Luke Rockhold, said Monday on The MMA Hour. “And I think he’s got his family, he’s got everything going for him, so he’s got a bright future with anything he wants to do. Cormier is a sharp guy with a lot of things going on, so we’ll see. We’ll see where it all falls.”

Along with being a fighter, Cormier, 38, is also the team captain at AKA and a broadcaster for both the UFC and FOX, entities for which the former Olympian works a variety of on-air roles.

The Sunday after UFC 214, Cormier addressed his loss in a statement delivered on social media. In it, Cormier congratulated Jones for his performance and thanked UFC fans for their support. Cormier has not spoken publicly since, and Rockhold expects his longtime friend to come back at his own pace.

“I think, like anything, that was a big stage, that was a big moment, and it was a big fall,” Rockhold said. “So give him some time, the guy’s got a big heart and he’s got a lot of things going for him. So, time heals all.”