The Daniel Cormier Show - DC REACTS to Justin Gaethje BEATING Paddy Pimblett, Sean O'Malley defeats Song Yadong

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: The Daniel Cormier Show – DC REACTS to Justin Gaethje BEATING Paddy Pimblett, Sean O'Malley defeats Song Yadong

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts/The Volume)
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Daniel Cormier (Guest host for this UFC 324 recap)

---

Overview

This episode features Daniel Cormier’s immediate, post-event reaction to UFC 324, focusing on Justin Gaethje’s upset victory over Paddy Pimblett to become interim lightweight champion and Sean O’Malley’s win against Song Yadong. Cormier breaks down each major fight, analyzes performances, addresses fighter legacies, and discusses the broader impact of the night on the UFC and its fans. The episode is authoritative, enthusiastic, and rich with inside perspective, especially for MMA fans craving expert breakdowns.

---

Main Themes & Key Discussion Points

Justin Gaethje Defeats Paddy Pimblett (Main Event)

• Gaethje’s Underdog Status & Performance
  • DC highlights how oddsmakers and most fans overlooked Gaethje leading up to the fight, positioning Paddy as the favorite.
  • “Everybody had him. Everybody had him. A massive underdog. But Justin Gaethje told anyone that would listen he was gonna get the job done. That’s exactly what he did tonight, becoming the interim champion for a second time.” (05:10)
• Maturity & Gratitude
  • Gaethje, who famously threw down the interim belt after his previous win, showed more humility and gratitude this time:
  • “He thanked his parents, he thanked his coaches, and that was a relief about Justin Gaethje that is not very present with JG.” (06:00)
• Fight Breakdown by Round
  • First round: Pimblett started strong but Gaethje dropped him.
  • Second round: Gaethje controlled and dominated, dropping Pimblett again.
  • Third round: Pimblett rallied and arguably won the round as Gaethje appeared to slow down.
  • Fourth round: Gaethje came back with relentless forward pressure, retaking control.
• Endurance & Championship Mentality
  • Cormier emphasizes the willpower needed for championship rounds:
  • “All the champions are pressure fighters. My intention is to pressure Paddy Pimblett...I thought when he was saying that, it was based on the fact that he didn’t think Paddy could go into those championship rounds and have that thing that makes champions special.” (08:10)
• Pimblett’s Rise Despite Defeat
  • DC acknowledges that, although Pimblett lost, this fight significantly raises his stock:
  • “Very rarely does a guy elevate in the loss as much as I believe Paddy Pimblett will elevate in this loss tonight...Tonight he proved that all that ‘he hasn't fought anybody in the top five yet’...I don't ever want to hear that again.” (09:42)
• Encouragement for Paddy
  • “I know Paddy was very disappointed, but he needs to keep his head up because I thought tonight he fought well, he represented himself, he represented his family, represented Liverpool very, very well inside the Octagon tonight. So keep your head up, Paddy Pimblett.” (10:20)
• Impact on UFC’s Broader Popularity
  • Cormier notes the event’s crossover appeal:
  • “We’re on Paramount. This is a new network. They’re going to be new fans. We need to introduce them to what the UFC is...there is not a sport in the world that can compare to the UFC.” (08:50)

Co-Main & Notable Fights

Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong

• Winner: Sean O’Malley (by decision)
• DC’s Impression:
  • “O’Malley was more mature all week...his post fight speech showed the maturity. He said it felt so good to win, right? So good to win. Wins are hard to come by in this thing...” (11:08)
  • Cormier questions whether the performance was enough for a title shot, noting the lack of a finish.
  • “He knew that he needed to have a beautiful performance. I thought a beautiful performance meant something like a finish, but he didn’t get that. But he did get a victory.” (11:39)

Derrick Lewis vs. Waldo Cortez Acosta

• Result: Derrick Lewis finished by Cortez Acosta
• Reflection:
  • “Is Derrick Lewis still that guy? I think tonight we learned the answer to that—that he isn’t. Cortez Acosta is very, very good, but the way the fight ended was very tricky to me.” (12:06)

Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas

• Silva won decisively.

John Silva vs. Arnold Allen

• Fight described as a “sick fight” with both fighters praised for toughness and performance.

Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

• Umar wins, but DC believes he hasn’t quite earned a bantamweight title shot yet:
  • “That performance isn’t enough to warrant him getting a title shot.” (13:03)

Other Results Briefly Discussed

• Nikita Krylov: Last second TKO win.
• Alex Perez: Returned to score a much-needed finish.
• Charles Johnson: Disputed referee stoppage, but DC sided with the ref.
• Josh Hoken: Noted for his brash personality and dominant win over Denzel Freeman.
• Ty Miller: Early stoppage victory over Adam Fugate.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gaethje’s Attitude After Win:

  • “He walked over after the fight and said, ‘I absolutely won. Right?’ I said, you are a sick son of a bitch. Because he went ahead like the old Justin Gaethje.” (07:53)

• On What Makes a Great Main Event:

  • “On the special nights, there is not a sport in the world that can compare to the UFC. And tonight we have one of those special nights.” (09:11)

• On Paddy Pimblett’s Stock Rising in Defeat:

  • “Very rarely does a guy elevate in the loss as much as I believe Paddy Pimblett will elevate in this loss tonight.” (09:42)

• On Bonuses and Fighter Pay:

  • “Every one of these fighters that got a finish gets a $25,000 bonus. For a guy like Ty Miller who gets 12 and 12, 14 and 14, that's almost double his salary.” (13:50)
  • “Now it’s on the fighters to go and cash in and make those opportunities matter by getting finishes.” (14:07)

• On UFC’s Crossover Moment with Paramount:

  • “Paramount wanted the UFC. They got the UFC at its best tonight. And those two guys that fought in the main event are going to be a reason that so many new fans are going to start tapping into the UFC.” (14:22)

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Justin Gaethje’s Underdog Status & Victory: 05:10–07:00
• Fight Breakdown & Psychology of Champions: 07:00–09:11
• Paddy Pimblett’s Stock After Loss: 09:11–10:37
• Sean O’Malley’s Win and Title Picture: 11:02–11:55
• Derrick Lewis & Heavyweight Implications: 12:06–12:25
• Bantamweight Title Scenario: 13:03–13:17
• Bonuses and Financial Impact for Fighters: 13:50–14:07
• Crossover to Paramount & UFC’s Future: 14:07–14:22

---

Closing Tone and Takeaway

Cormier closes on an upbeat, hopeful note, encouraging fighters to seize new financial opportunities and new fans to discover the sport’s magic. He promises more backstage insights—direct from the Octagon.

“Stick around. I’m gonna go chase down the coaches to talk to them about what they thought about their prize people's performances...There is no reaction like a DC reaction from right outside of the Octagon. It really is the best seat in the house.” (14:27)

---

For newcomers and MMA diehards alike, this episode delivers a passionate, inside-the-cage view of a pivotal night for the UFC.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Guaranteed Human running a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory. A separate one for accounting. That's software overload. Odoo is the all in one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, E Commerce, hr. Fully integrated, easy to use and built to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you try Odoo for free at odoo? That's odoo.com.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Refresh your bathroom with Big savings at Lowes Reimagine your bathroom with up to 40% off select faucets during our Bath Savings event. Need it today? Order by 2pm for same day delivery by 8pm shop for your bathroom refresh at Lowe's. We help you save wall supplies. Last selection varies by location. Same day delivery on eligible in stock items subject to availability fees vary. Visit Lowes.com SameDayDelivery for full.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

Hey, so Liquid IV has got something huge coming up on February 8th and that is.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

Coincidentally the same day as another big game.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

You know Hydration will be a huge focus.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

That's what Liquid IV is all about.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

Tackling dehydration and tasting good while doing it. There are awesome flavors like sugar free mango, pineapple, rainbow sherbet and raspberry lemonade. The best part is that it's clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Boom.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

Hydration done right?

[Liquid IV Promoter]

I'm assuming you guys will be tuning into the game, so remember to keep an eye out for Liquid IV while you watch. Stay Hydrated. Stock up on liquid [e-mail] and use the code Nut House for 20% off for a first time purchase.

[Public Investing Advertiser / Podcast Host]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures the volume.

[Hard Rock Bet Advertiser / Podcast Host]

All right guys, today's show is brought to you by our new sponsor, Hard Rock Bet. Hard Rock Bet is a top rated sportsbook app. It might just take the belt from any other sportsbook app that you use once you open it up and you see it for yourself. And guys, if you haven't tried your first bet on Hard Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get 150 in bonus bets if you win. So place a $5 bet. If that bet hits you not only get your winnings but you get $150 in bonus bets right away. Guys, today is a great day to try the Hard Rock Bet sports app, so it's not just a welcome offer. You can get bonus bets, you can get parlay insurance and other rewards. The rewards and the promos are non stop. So download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit today. Payable and Bonus bets is not a cash offer. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 or older and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1888. Admit I T in Indiana. If you are someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1809 with it. And if you have a gambling problem, call 1-800- GAMBLER. All right guys, hey, UFC 324 just wrapped and this is my post fight reaction video brought to you by Total Wireless, the official wild provider of UFC. They're in your corner with unlimited 5G data that will not slow you down. These guys are from Total Wireless. They want to hear a little bit as we get back into these renegotiations. Guys, UFC 324 was an absolute banger. You know I'm watching Justin Gaethje all week get overlooked by Patty Pimblett by the betting companies. Everybody had him. Everybody had him. A massive underdog. But Justin Gaethje told anyone that would listen he was gonna get the job done. That's exactly what he did tonight, becoming the interim champion for a second time. You know Justin Gaethje, the first time he Became interim champion. He threw the belt on the ground. Not anymore. Tonight he was gracious, he was grateful. He was happy to become the interim champion for a second time. He thanked his parents, he thanked his coaches, and that was a. A relief about Justin Gaethje. That is not very present with jg, but after that performance, you have to be appreciative of the spot that you're in. From the very start of that fight, JG went forward. He pressured Patty Pimblett. He really did cause car crashes over and over again with the. The belief that every car crash benefited him more than it did Patty Pimblett, you know, and he hurt him and he dropped him. And there were so many opportunities for Patty Pimlet to say, you know what? Tonight is just my night. But he never did that. You know, it takes a special type of fighter to become a world champion late into their 30s. Justin Timber Gaethje did tonight. He's the oldest fighter ever to hold a championship at 155 pounds. And he did it against a guy that was intent on becoming a champion himself. Tonight was not an easy night for Justin Gaethje. Patty Pimblett gave him everything he could have asked for and more, and he was able to step up at every turn. First round, Pimlet started well. Justin drop him. Looked like he was going to finish him. Pimblett survived. Second round, Justin drops him even more dominant in that round. He was in the first. Pimblett survives Third round. I thought that Paddy Pimblett had the best round of the fight that he had. He was able to land on Justin. He was able to get some damage off on Justin, and it looked like Gaethje was slowing down. But in the fourth round, Gaethje got right back on. The pressure got Paddy going backwards, and when it was able to take control of the fight once again. You know, all week, he told us guys, that pressure. All the champions are pressure fighters. My intention is to pressure Paddy Pimblett. I thought that when he was saying that, it was based on the fact that he didn't think that Paddy could go into those championship rounds and have that thing that makes champions special, that ability to stay with the. The. The pace, the pressure, the mind that it takes to get up off that stool on round four, round five, and still have the idea that you're going to win the fight and give the effort that it takes to win the fight. Pimblett showed that he has that and more. Look, Justin Gaethje became the interim champion tonight, and I'm so Happy for him. He walked over after the fight and said, I absolutely won. Right? I said, you are a sick son of a bitch. Because he went ahead like the old Justin Gaethje. That guy that was measured when he knocked out Dustin Poirier and beat Rafael Fazeev was long gone. It was almost like he understood the assignment. We're on Paramount. This is a new network. They're going to be new fans. We need to introduce them to what the UFC is. I think after watching that, everybody that was tuned in are going to be lifelong fans of the ufc, because on the special nights, there is not a sport in the world that can compare to the ufc. And tonight we have one of those special nights. You know, very rarely does a guy elevate in the loss as much as I believe Patty Pimblett will elevate in this loss tonight. So many people wanted to call him a hype job. So many people wanted to pretend that this kid didn't deserve to be here tonight, that this kid was not a viable challenger for a world title. Tonight he proved that all that he hasn't fought anybody in the top five yet. None of the best guys. I don't ever want to hear that again. Because what I saw tonight was a kid that has a big future, that has a ton of ability to really challenge the best fighters in the world, and he will do that consistently for a really, really long time. I know Paddy was very disappointed, but he needs to keep his head up because I thought tonight he fought well, he represented himself, he represented his family, represented Liverpool very, very well inside the Octagon tonight. So keep your head up. Paddy Pimblett. That was title fight, one of many that will come down the line. In the co main event, Sean o' Malley beat Song Yidong. O' Malley was more mature all week leading to this and I believe that his post fight speech showed the maturity. He said it felt so good to win, right? So good to win. Wins are hard to come by in this thing, especially when you're one of the best fighters in the world and you're fighting world champions or you are a world champion. I think tonight that show is Sean o' Malley getting the victory. Now is that enough to warrant him getting the title fight? I don't know. I don't think so. I think that he needs to do more. He knew that he needed to have a beautiful performance. I thought a beautiful performance meant something like a finish, but he didn't get that. But he did get a victory. So hats off to Sean o' Malley. Derrick Lewis got finished by Waldo Cortez Acosta. A lot of people ask me, is Derrick Lewis still that guy? I think tonight we learned the answer to that and that that's he isn't. Cortez Acosta is very, very good, but the way the fight ended was very tricky to me. I wanted to see Derek throw but he seemed too slow. He seemed to step behind the entire fight between Waldo and Waldo showed that he is now what the heavyweight division needs and he's a guy that's going to challenge for a really long time. Natalia Silva beat Rose Namajunas. John Silva had a great performance against Arnold Allen. That was a sick fight between those two guys. They both should be very proud of their performance. Umar Nagomedov beat Davis and Figueredo. But again at 135, that performance isn't enough to warrant him getting a title shot. So I believe, wow, you know, Peon dominated Marab Dwallis, Willie last time. But after watching Umar tonight and after watching Sean o', Malley, I believe that we're going to end up with Marab and Porian again for a third time just because I don't think that those guys separated themselves enough. We learned that at Tabak, Gaultier can go through 15 minutes if he needs to. So hats off to Andre Pulia for making him do that. Great win by Nikita Krilov, last second tko. Alex Perez has been gone from the Octagon for a long time. Comes back, gets a finish in his return, one that he needed very bad. Charles Johnson was mad that he, the referee stopped the fight. I thought he did him a favor. Great job by Alex Perez. Josh Hoken is the real deal. I mean he can be abrasive, he can say some crazy stuff and he can get the guy holding the microphone very nervous as to what this man will say. But he got the job done again tonight in the fight against Denzel Freeman. When most thought that that would be a difficult matchup for him, it wasn't, not even close. And to start the night, Ty Miller beat Adam Fugate and got a finish. Why did I speak to you guys about every one of these finishes? Because now, as I said, there will be more money going to the fighters. Every one of these fighters that got a finish gets a $25,000 bonus. For a guy like Ty Miller who gets 12 and 12, 14 and 14, that's almost double his salary. So now you can start to see everything trickle down. Told you that this deal would benefit everyone and I think that right there is one of the things and also the bonuses went to $100,000 for performance of the Night, Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night. There are opportunities now it's on the fighters to go and cash in and make those opportunities matter by getting finishes. Hey, Paramount wanted the ufc. They got the UFC at its best tonight. And those two guys that fought in the main event are going to be a reason that so many new fans are going to start tapping into the ufc. Guys, stick around. I'm gonna go chase down the coaches to talk to them about what they thought about their prize people's performances. And you guys always love those. So until next time, like subscribe, tell your friend, tell their friends that DC's got a YouTube channel and I'm giving you all this access to the UFC right from Octagon side. There is no reaction like a D.C. reaction from right outside of the octagon. It really is the best seat in the house. It really is the best seat in the house. Until next time. Peace.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

Hey, so Liquid IV has got something huge coming up on February 8th, and.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

That is coincidentally the same day as another big game.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

You know, hydration will be a huge focus.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

That's what Liquid IV is all about.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

Tackling dehydration and tasting good while doing it. There are awesome flavors like sugar free mango, pineapple, rainbow sherbet and raspberry lemonade. The best part is that it's clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Boom.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

Hydration done. Right?

[Liquid IV Promoter]

I'm assuming you guys will be tuning into the game, so remember to keep an eye out for Liquid IV while you watch. Stay hydrated. Stock up on liquid [e-mail] and use the code nuthouse for 20% off for a first time purchase.

[Hard Rock Bet Advertiser / Podcast Host]

Janice Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz.

[Public Investing Advertiser / Podcast Host]

We host the podcast Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories produced by Ruby Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.

[Hard Rock Bet Advertiser / Podcast Host]

We're back for season four to talk.

[Podcast Announcer]

To some incredible small business owners.

[Hard Rock Bet Advertiser / Podcast Host]

The big thing about working at tech is that it's ever evolving, ever changing. Everyone's a rookie. That's how fast the industry is changing. So what I'm really excited about is to be part of that change.

[Public Investing Advertiser / Podcast Host]

So Listen, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. Push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail].

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jewels. Sunday mornings I've got my game day ritual, coffee, Lucky socks and now new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

It's all about that 12 gram protein boost with the new Uncrustables Bright Eyed Berry or Up and Apple flavors.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

Bright Eye Berries got a feisty receiver.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

Energy up an apple. Your classic Do it all tight end.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

Soft, pillowy, packed with protein and easy enough for Gronk to grab from the freezer.

[Liquid IV Promoter]

Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, New Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches are the MVP of snacks.

[Liquid IV Co-Promoter / Julian Edelman]

Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here with New Morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed with 12 grams of protein.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.