Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Daniel Cormier TV - Daniel Cormier & Ben Askren on Alex Pereira CRAZY title run, Leon Edwards vs. Brady, Buckley's RISE
Release Date: January 2, 2025

1. Holiday Reflections and Personal Updates

Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren kick off the episode by sharing their holiday experiences, highlighting how they balanced family commitments with their ongoing involvement in wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA).

• Daniel Cormier mentions his engagement with the AWA Youth wrestling program:
  "We had six teams, and we just did, you know, four matches in the morning and had a good time." (02:56)

• Ben Askren contrasts his approach by focusing on family relaxation:
  "We're all decorating cookies and stuff, but I like my kids to be kids." (03:19)

A humorous anecdote unfolds when Ben recounts a mishap involving his family and a golf cart:

• Ben Askren:
  "We get in my golf cart, my sister and my niece. Then they leave the golf cart in the driveway. My 17-year-old nephew and the 12-year-old jump in the golf cart. Next thing you know, I can't find these kids. They crashed my golf cart into the curb, broke the steering column within two hours." (04:56)

• Daniel Cormier playfully suggests Ben acquire more land to prevent neighborhood antics:
  "Just, like, kind of go do whatever you want. Makes it easy." (06:09)

2. MMA Off-Season Insights and Title Contention

Transitioning to MMA discussions, Daniel and Ben delve into the current landscape of the sport, focusing on title opportunities and the dynamics within various weight divisions.

a. Welterweight Division Dynamics

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Leon Edwards and his potential matchups, particularly the call from Sean Brady:

• Ben Askren highlights Brady’s challenge to Edwards:
  "Sean Brady... he wants to fight Leon Edwards in England. He wants to fight him." (07:37)

• Daniel Cormier supports Leon Edwards taking on Brady:
  "I think he should take it. He hasn't fought since July, so, you know, he does need to get back in there at some point." (11:06)

They discuss the importance of giving rising fighters like Brady and Joaquin Buckley opportunities to prove themselves against established champions:

• Ben Askren:
  "I think Leon should fight him. Because one, this is one thing that could happen. If you go and beat the young up and coming guy, he may be one fight from earning another championship opportunity." (11:06)

b. Championship Opportunities and Division Turnover

The hosts explore the necessity of promoting newer talent to invigorate stale divisions:

• Ben Askren:
  "We have a lot of young guys there... So Leon's got to fight one of them." (10:17)

• Daniel Cormier:
  "If you're Dana, you got to push hard to give those up and comers. ... You got to give those guys a shot against some of these former champions and see if they can put a show on." (12:23)

c. Flow State in Fighting

The concept of the "flow state" is examined in the context of fighting performance:

• Daniel Cormier explains the flow state:
  "The flow state happens when every. All of your energy is focused on a singular moment in time and everything else disappears." (19:18)

• Ben Askren shares his personal experience of being in the flow state during a fight:
  "I got on a high crotch, and then I flip him. It was like everything was working. Every transition, every move that I did, every punch I threw, landed." (20:58)

They discuss strategies to enter the flow state, including mental preparation and discipline:

• Ben Askren:
  "Abstain from sex for like a month... Don't eat past like 2:00pm in the afternoon." (24:04)

• Daniel Cormier:
  "If you don't try to hurt him, he's gonna hurt me. That's kind of how I thought about in the octagon." (25:38)

3. Rising Stars and Future Matchups

The conversation shifts to emerging fighters and their trajectories within the UFC:

a. Alex Pereira's Title Run

Alex Pereira's rapid ascent within the UFC is a focal point:

• Ben Askren remarks on Pereira’s swift title challenge:
  "He fought like two fights, and then he got a title fight in New York." (18:30)

• Daniel Cormier:
  "He's been fighting for the belt very active." (18:47)

b. Hano Moicano and the BMF Championship

Discussion includes Hano Moicano's rise and his pursuit of the BMF title:

• Ben Askren praises Moicano's approach:
  "He says he'd be willing to fight Max Holloway for the BMF championship. You into that?" (25:52)

• Daniel Cormier emphasizes the importance of fighting determination:
  "He likes to fight frequently, which is great. I love what he's doing." (28:27)

4. Reflections on MMA's Evolution and Longevity of Fighters

The hosts reflect on the longevity and evolution of fighters within the sport:

• Ben Askren contemplates the aging champions:
  "How much longer can we'll just say the trio of Usman and Leon and Bilal hang on to the top because they're all older." (17:32)

• Daniel Cormier discusses the impact of time on fighters:
  "It is boring when it gets stale up top." (17:33)

They mention Jon Jones as an exception due to his extended career and infrequent fights:

• Ben Askren:
  "Jon Jones has literally been the champion the whole time. Like, that's crazy, dude." (18:27)

5. Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, Daniel and Ben provide final thoughts on the state of MMA and tease future discussions:

• Daniel Cormier:
  "I'll tell you the bad part is it's almost an addictive state..." (20:19)

• Ben Askren:
  "It's cool, right? But I don't know if that's what was intended to be." (28:25)

They conclude with mutual appreciation and encouragement for listeners to stay engaged with upcoming episodes.

Notable Quotes

• Ben Askren (04:56):
  "They crashed my golf cart into the curb, broke the steering column within two hours."

• Daniel Cormier (19:18):
  "The flow state happens when every. All of your energy is focused on a singular moment in time and everything else disappears."

• Ben Askren (24:04):
  "Abstain from sex for like a month... Don't eat past like 2:00pm in the afternoon."

• Ben Askren (25:52):
  "Hano Moicano... he's been winning at an alarming rate. He says he'd be willing to fight Max Holloway for the BMF championship."

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren offer an in-depth analysis of the current MMA landscape, highlighting the importance of fostering new talent, understanding the dynamics of champion longevity, and the psychological aspects that influence fighter performance. Their candid discussions, enriched with personal anecdotes and expert insights, provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of where the sport stands as it moves into 2025.