TLDR
- Daniel Cormier criticized Gable Steveson for leaving the cage quickly after his 12-second knockout loss at UFC 331
- Fans shared footage showing Cormier did the same thing after his UFC 214 knockout loss to Jon Jones
- Cormier responded saying he has no memory of leaving the cage after the Jones head kick knockout
- The former champion says he remembers nothing from after the kick until getting in the ambulance nine years ago
- Jon Jones took responsibility for escorting Steveson out of the cage as his coach
Sources: yardbarker.com | mmasucka.com | nyfights.com
Daniel Cormier has defended himself after fans accused him of hypocrisy for criticizing Gable Steveson’s post-fight behavior at UFC 331. The former two-division champion says he has no memory of leaving the cage after his knockout loss to Jon Jones at UFC 214.
Steveson drew heavy criticism after his shocking 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331. The Olympic gold medalist entered the fight as a -2400 favorite but was knocked out in what became the third-fastest knockout in heavyweight history.
After regaining consciousness, Steveson left the cage before Bruce Buffer could announce the official result. He walked out with his coach Jon Jones while Sharaf’s hand was being raised, which many viewed as poor sportsmanship.
Cormier Calls Out Steveson’s Behavior
Cormier was one of Steveson’s most vocal critics on the Paramount broadcast. “You stand there and you take your lick whenever you lose,” Cormier said during the event.
“If you’re concussed, cry, I did. You take your lick whenever it doesn’t go your way. You cannot be a great winner and then an ungrateful loser, and I think that was bad from Steveson,” he added.
Daniel Cormier to Gable Steveson:
"You let that man get his hand raised, and you stand there no matter how you feel. You can't be a great winner and then an ungrateful loser."
Meanwhile, DC: ðŸ˜#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/CupGVLVJa6
— Combat Wire (@CombatWireMMA) September 21, 2026
Fans quickly responded by sharing footage from UFC 214 in 2017. The video showed Cormier walking around the octagon instead of standing next to Jones after being knocked out by a head kick.
Cormier was eventually brought back to the cage by Dana White and UFC management for the official post-fight ceremony. The result was later overturned to a no contest after Jones failed a drug test.
Cormier Explains His Actions
Jon Jones posted the footage on Instagram, prompting Cormier to respond on social media. “Wait I did that?” Cormier wrote on X in response to the video.
“Honestly this is what I mean when I say I remember nothing from after the kick landed until I got into the ambulance and 9 years later I still can’t find the memory,” he continued. “Every time I see something from that night post knockout it’s the first time I’ve seen it. That’s crazy.”
The UFC Hall of Famer explained that the severity of the knockout left him with no recollection of his actions. Jones had landed a massive head kick that left Cormier unconscious for an extended period.
Jones later claimed responsibility for Steveson’s quick exit from the cage at UFC 331. As Steveson’s coach, Jones said he was the one who escorted the wrestler out of the octagon after the knockout.
Cormier has since moved on from his fighting career and works as a broadcaster and analyst. He remains active in MMA commentary, recently discussing the flyweight division and predicting that Manel Kape could pose a threat to champion Joshua Van.
The situation highlights the lasting effects of knockout losses in mixed martial arts. Cormier’s experience at UFC 214 demonstrates how fighters can lose significant memory of events following severe head trauma.
