Daniel Cormier TV - DC REACTS to Islam Makhachev beating Jack Della, CRAZY Bo Nickal & Carlos Prates KOs

Summary

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The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Daniel Cormier TV: DC REACTS to Islam Makhachev beating Jack Della, CRAZY Bo Nickal & Carlos Prates KOs

Date: November 16, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Guest Host: Daniel Cormier (DC)

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Overview

In this episode, UFC legend and commentator Daniel Cormier delivers his post-fight reactions to the electric UFC 322 card. Broadcasting straight from the arena, Cormier breaks down Islam Makhachev’s dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena to become a two-division champion, thrilling knockouts by Bo Nickal and Carlos Prates, Valentina Shevchenko’s assertion of GOAT status, and more stunning performances up and down the card. Cormier’s analysis highlights what each star's win means for their futures, as well as the overall evolution of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.

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Main Discussion Points & Analysis

Islam Makhachev Becomes Double Champion

[05:26 – 10:56]

• Dominant Win: Makhachev, the heavy favorite, defeats Jack Della Maddalena via shutout (50-45 on all judges' cards).
  • “Islam proved why he was such a massive favorite in this fight, totally controlling Jack Della Maddalena...” (05:40)
• Tactics: Early leg kicks set up the fight, but as usual, it was his wrestling/grappling that controlled the action.
• Jack’s Preparation: Cormier credits Della Maddalena’s readiness but says, “When it came time to put everything into action, there were no answers.” (06:30)
• Makachev’s Growth: DC shares pride seeing Makhachev reach greatness, referencing his journey from Dagestan to champion status.
  • “He deserves everything he gets...he’s earned it with hard work, commitment, everything.” (07:04)
• Historical Significance: Makhachev is now expected to reclaim the #1 pound-for-pound ranking; joins the rare group of UFC double champions.
  • “He ensures himself to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.” (09:18)
• Khabib’s Joke: Khabib teases DC, “Put your eyes down, right? Because now we have a guy that has two belts.” (09:12)

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Valentina Shevchenko’s Legacy Fight

[10:57 – 12:11]

• Dominates Weili Zhang: Shevchenko wins decisively, reinforcing the importance of weight classes.
  • “She really did just dominate her in a way that I didn’t expect.” (11:08)
• Historic Run: Now 9 title defenses, 11 title fight wins.
  • “Only Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, I think, have that many title fight victories. She’s in rarefied air.” (11:55)
• GOAT Debate: DC calls for Shevchenko to be considered alongside Amanda Nunes as possible greatest female fighter ever.
  • “I believe it’s time for us to start having the conversation on whether or not Valentina Shevchenko now should be considered the greatest female fighter of all time.” (12:05)
• MJ–LeBron Comparison:
  • “Maybe we older people still think Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, and the young kids still think LeBron James is. But at least now there’s a conversation.” (12:02)

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Prospect Surges and Wild Knockouts

[12:11 – 15:49]

Michael Morales Stuns Sean Brady

• First-Round KO: Morales moves to 19-0, crushes Brady, the #2 welterweight, in one round.
  • “This kid’s 19-0, and he just knocked out the number two guy in the world in the first round.” (12:24)
• Stacked Division: Despite the huge win, Morales must navigate the UFC’s deepest division in pursuit of a title shot.

Carlos Prates KOs Leon Edwards

• Upset Narrative: After being wrestled in Round 1, Prates taunts Edwards, “I didn’t come to grapple, I came to fight.” (13:44)
• Fight-Changer: Gets Edwards to stand with him, promptly knocks out one of MMA’s best strikers.
  • “That was very impressive by Prates, and in most cases, that would have guaranteed him a title fight. Unfortunately, he fights at 170, where it’s just so deep, guys.” (14:20)
• Division Depth: Emphasizes constant influx of new contenders—next week, Ian Garry (who beat Prates) faces Belal Muhammad.

Benoit Saint-Denis’ Instant KO

• Spectacular Finish: Knocks out Beneil Dariush in 16 seconds.
  • “Benoit Saint-Denis knocked him out...in 16 seconds” (15:10)
• Comeback Story: Rebounds from prior loss, now riding a win streak.

Bo Nickal’s Breakout Head Kick KO

• Signature Moment:
  • “Bo Nickal had one of the nastiest head kick knockouts ever. It was exactly what that kid needed.” (15:50)
• Resilience: After his first career loss, Nickal arrives as a fast-improving threat, especially notable given his wrestling background.

Additional Highlights

• Aaron Blanchfield: Submits Tracy Cortez—striking creates wrestling opportunities, putting her into the title conversation.
• Ethan Ewing: Wins on two-day’s notice, praised for professionalism and heart.
• Kyle Daukaus: Victorious return to the UFC.
• Sousakayev: TKO win over Eric McConnico.

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Context, Records & Reflections

[16:10 – 17:45]

• Makachev’s Historic Streak: Ties Anderson Silva for most consecutive UFC victories (16 wins).
  • “He now ties Anderson Silva for the most consecutive victories in UFC history at 16. That’s crazy.” (16:13)
• Big Fights Ahead: DC predicts Ilia Topuria is Makachev’s best challenge left.
• Performance of the Night: Cormier awards “Total Wireless Fighter of the Night” to Bo Nickal.
  • “That head kick was insane...To show that level of striking as a wrestler tells you that Bo Nickal really is jumping to the next level.” (16:59)

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Closing Thoughts

[17:46 – End]

• DC describes UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden as, “one of the best fight nights of my entire life.” (17:30)
• Tribute to fighters, encouragement to fans to follow for more.
• “Islam’s the man now. Islam’s the man as many believed he would be.” (17:42)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Islam’s dominance:
  • “There is no DC, you are being biased. You can’t judge Islam harshly for what he did tonight. It really was a shutout against a guy that was very well prepared and ready for the challenge.” (08:36)
• On Valentina’s place in history:
  • “There is no one like Valentina Shevchenko. And I believe it’s time that people start to give her the respect that she deserves...I don’t know that she’s just a great fighter. I think she’s one of the greatest of all time.” (11:56 – 12:03)
• On Bo Nickal’s KO:
  • “The way that he set it up, the way that he landed it, the way that he put him out was unbelievable.” (17:02)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Islam Makhachev’s Win, Double Champ Status: 05:26–10:56
• Valentina Shevchenko’s Legacy Victory: 10:57–12:11
• Michael Morales KO / Welterweight Mayhem: 12:11–13:00
• Carlos Prates KOs Leon Edwards: 13:00–14:20
• Benoit Saint-Denis’ 16-second KO: 14:20–14:50
• Bo Nickal’s Highlight Head Kick: 15:00–15:49
• Additional Results & Prospects: 15:50–16:10
• Record-Breaking, Performance Award: 16:10–17:10
• Final Reflections: 17:30–17:42

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Summary

Daniel Cormier’s post-UFC 322 reactions deliver detailed, authentic, and passionate insight into a stacked night of fights headlined by Islam Makhachev’s historic achievement. Cormier highlights how the night elevated or redefined fighters' careers—from upstarts like Morales and Nickal to legends like Shevchenko and Makhachev, and how the UFC’s deep divisions ensure constant excitement and unpredictability. His candid analysis and celebratory tone make this episode a must-listen for fight fans seeking expert, ringside perspective.

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Transcript

[Sophie Cunningham]

This is an I Heart podcast.

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[UFC Commentator / Analyst]

All right guys, UFC 322 just wrapped and this is my post Fight Reaction video brought to you by Total Wireless, the official wireless provider of UFC. They are in your corner with unlimited 5G data that will not slow you.

[UFC Host / Analyst]

Down and you see Miles back there.

[UFC Commentator / Analyst]

Is not slowing down he's striking the set. That's what they do immediately after the show ends. They try to get all of this stuff out of the arena so that then they can go home. But ultimately we were in the arena for what proved to be one of the best fight cards of the entire year. It looked good on paper, it was even better in reality. But ultimately the night belonged to the new welterweight champion, Islam Makachev. Islamicachev took on Jack Della Maddalena. He was instilled as a massive favorite going into the fight, so many questioned why even I did. Jack De La Maddalena is very, very good. He's very, very tough. He has a great team of guys that prepare him for tonight. Islam proved why he was such a massive favorite in this fight, totally controlling Jack Della Madalina, winning the fight 50:45 on every single one of the judges school card. Very early in the fight, Islam started to land beautiful leg kicks, calf kicks that ultimately damaged Ella Maddalena. But it was wrestling. It was the wrestling and the grappling, as it normally is with Makachev that led the day and ultimately allowed for him to capture his second title. He was confident. He was sure he looked big inside the octagon, even against a guy that most thought was a little bigger. And he looked like a real welterweight, a guy that really had no, he really had no issues with jdm. And honestly, Jack was prepared. Jack was very well prepared for Islam's signature submission. I imagine Jack and them felt prepared for the takedowns of Islam. But ultimately, when it came to time to put everything into action, there were no answers. Makhachev was very confident that he would be able to get this done. That's exactly what he did, guys. I remember Islam coming into the gym as a very young kid and you knew he had something. You knew he was special. You knew that he could be a champion. But when you watch a guy truly reach the level, it's gratifying for someone that cares about you or cares about them. Islam's a great guy and he deserves everything that he gets because he does. He's earned it with hard work, commitment, everything. He would leave his family to come to California in the United States to prepare. And he's doing the same things now as what I imagine the number one pound for pound fighter in the world, because now that he's won a belt in the second division, I expect him and Ilya to flip again in this week's rankings. But it was dominant. It was exactly what we have seen him do on so Many occasions inside the octagon, there is no dc. You are being biased. You can't judge Islam harshly for what he did tonight. It really was a shutout against a guy that was very well prepared and ready for the challenge. Or at least he thought he was ready for the challenge. But once again, Islam beat him in grappling and in the striking. Islam Makhachev not only held his own, but I thought he won the striking in the fight also. So hats off to the guy. Now he's a double champion. He is a 2 division champ. Khabib walked up to me and goes, put your eyes down, right? Because now you have. We have a guy that has two belts. So now I gotta go talk to Islam, but I gotta make sure I put my eyes down. Because he now joins that list of people that have won belts in two divisions. And he assures himself to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time. Another person that's going to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time is Valentin Shevchenko. She wiped out Zhang Weili. That fight proved why there are weight classes. She looked so much bigger than Zhang Weili. She controlled her effortlessly. She really did just dominate her in a way that I didn't expect. So many people thought that Weili was going to win this fight. So many people thought that her speed, her athleticism could present some problems to the bullet. But she presented no problems, man. She just showed that she's on a different level. You know, she has now defended the belt 11 times in her glorious career. Or one UFC title fights 11 times. She has defended the belt like nine or 10. Nine, because she won it that she wanted again when she beat Alexa. Nine defenses, two wins. Only Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, I think, have that many title fight victories. She's in rarefied air. There is no one like Valentina Shevchenko. And I believe it's time that people start to give her the respect that she deserves. I know she is universally praised for being a great fighter, but I don't know that she's just a great fighter. I think she's one of the greatest of all time. And I believe that now we should be having the conversation about her and Amanda Nunes. I know, I know everybody kind of wants to be quick to. Everybody wants to be quick to knock that argument off to the side. But I. I don't think it's just. It's like LeBron and Michael Jordan. Maybe we older people still think Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, and the young kids still think that LeBron James is. But at least now there's a conversation. Wait for so long, nobody even wanted to talk about someone that could potentially be as good as mj. Now, at least there's a conversation. I believe it's time for us to start having the conversation on whether or not Valentina Chefchenko now should be considered the greatest female fighter of all time. Great job. To the champ. The Bullet. I don't know, man. I. I don't know who's going to stop her. Many thought this was going to be her hardest challenge. She proved that it wasn't. Michael Morales beat Sean Brady in the first round. Michael Morales, so many thought he was struggling with the wrestling of Brady, especially after the way Brady looked against Leon Edwards.

[UFC Host / Analyst]

He wiped him out.

[UFC Commentator / Analyst]

This kid is now 19 0. This kid has so many finishes. This Walter Wake division is so crazy. I mean, throat lozenges, because I've been calling fights for eight hours, but I want to make sure I give you guys this. This kid's 19 0, and he just knocked out the number two guy in the world in the first round. In most cases, Morales would be easily identified as the next guy for a championship opportunity. Unfortunately for him, he's in what may be the deepest weight class in the ufc.

[UFC Host / Analyst]

Now.

[UFC Commentator / Analyst]

We have so many guys in this weight that have undefeated records. One loss, 18, 19. It's insane, some of the records that these young men have in this weight class. But it was a beautiful performance by Michael Morales. Carlos Protest is a madman. But tonight he knocked out a former champion in Leon Edwards in the second round. I mean, got wrestled in the first round. The whole time was talking to him, telling him, I didn't come to grapple, I came to fight. Ultimately, he got Leon to stand with him a little bit, and he put him to sleep. Now, okay, a younger guy knocking out an older guy generally isn't that big a deal. But Leon's one of the best strikers in the world. He's been that for a long time. That was very impressive by Protest, and in most cases, that would have guaranteed him a title fight. Unfortunately, he fights at 170, where it's just so deep, guys. Next week, Ian Gary fights Bilal Muhammad. Gary just beat this guy Protest in April. That's how good this weight class is. But tonight, ultimately, League Carlos Protest made a statement, and he should be lauded for that. Benoit Sandhuni knocked out vanille Dariush in 16 seconds. 16 seconds. Benoit Sandini knocked him out. When Sandhony lost to Hanato Moicano, so many were ready to write him off. He has not won three fights in a row, and he just knocked out that most highly ranked guy he's ever beaten, and he did it in 16 seconds. The changes that he has made are really starting to pay dividends for him, so he should be proud of what he did. Bo Nickel had one of the nastiest head kick knockouts ever. It was exactly what that kid needed. After losing his first fight, so many people were ready to write him off. He proved tonight that not only should you not write him off, but he's getting better. He said that head kick up beautifully. They're doing some great work with with Bo down the American top team. And Bo does still look like one of the guys, an American born guy that could potentially be a world champion. Aaron Blanchfield submitted Tracy Cortez. I questioned her early because she wasn't wrestling. Her striking ultimately led to her wrestling and then getting a submission. So hats off to Aaron who now is on the short list of people could potentially get a title opportunity. Ethan Ewing beat Malcolm Wallmaker. Dude took that final 48 hours notice. Watching him do what he did really does show you how special these fighters are. This kid's special man. It was amazing to watch. Hats off Kyle Dawkins. Another knockout victory or submission victory as he returns to the UFC by saying our Sousakayev with a TKO of Eric. Eric McConnico in the third round. It was absolutely fantastic. Guys, before I get to my total wireless fighter of the night, I want to tell you one last thing about islamicachev. He now ties Anderson Silva for the most consecutive victories in ufc history at 6:16. That's crazy to do what he has done. There are a lot of big fights for him. I still believe the the Ilia Toporia fight is the biggest one that they can make in the ufc. Guys, now it's time. It's my total wireless performance of the night, and honestly, I'm gonna give that to Bo Nickel. I thought that head kick was insane. The way that he set it up, the way that he landed it, the way that he put him out was unbelievable. To show that level of striking as a wrestler tells you that Bull Nickel really is jumping to the next level. So congratulations to Bull Nickel for being my total wireless fighter of the night and getting my total wireless performance of the night. Guys, every year, Madison Square Garden is fantastic. I set the Dana White after the very start of the main card. This is one of the best fight nights of my entire life. And he agreed. It was fantastic. We have one more pay per view to the end of the year in Las Vegas. It has been a great year for the UFC and I'm so happy to be a part of it and to be a part of this organization. It's amazing man. Great champions, great fighters, everything honestly is the final pay per view of all time. So so make sure you guys tap in. New York always is so fantastic but I cannot wait to get back to California. So until next time guys, I love and appreciate every one of you. Like I always say, I will never take the fact that you guys watch this for granted. Islam's the man now. Islam's the man as many believed he would be. Until next time. Like subscribe and tell your friends my my YouTube channel from New York City.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Peace.

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[UFC Host / Analyst]

Warning.

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This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Sophie Cunningham]

This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or osa, in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at don'tsleep on OSA.com this information is provided by Lilly, a medicine company.

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[Sophie Cunningham]

Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line, but.

[UFC Commentator / Analyst]

First there the last one.

[Sophie Cunningham]

Enjoy a Coca Cola for for a pause that refreshes.

[UFC Host / Analyst]

This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. When you're streaming the fight or sharing those takedown highlights, you need a wireless provider that keeps you close to the action. With Total Wireless, you're covered by the Verizon 5G network, so you don't have to worry about your connection being knocked out at the biggest moments. It's not something you can usually say about a wireless provider, but Total Wireless really does have your back. They're in your corner every second of the day, so you never miss a thing. Visit totalwireless.com or visit your local Total Wireless store to learn more about how Total Wireless can be in your corner. 5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G service area. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Sophie Cunningham]

This is an iHeart podcast.