Late replacement at UFC 170 will make Cormier's journey longer

Daniel Cormier (left) and Patrick Cummins are separated by UFC president Dana White after an exchange during the final UFC 170 pre-fight press conference.

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

"I've accepted that there still will be work to be done," said Cormier, "but yeah, with injuries you never know what could happen. Hopefully, I'll put on a great performance here. I'm disappointed that I won't have the opportunity to show what I can do against someone the caliber of Rashad Evans. But I'm a professional, and my job is to go in there and fight to the best of my ability, regardless of who the opponent is. My motivation comes not from the man across the cage. It comes from within myself, from a desire to do special things in this sport. I've got to get through that guy -- whoever it is -- to get myself closer to my goal of being UFC champion."