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

"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

Jeff Wagenheim | Feb 21, 2014

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. — 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."

Published Feb 21, 2014

JEFF WAGENHEIM

Paradoxically, Jeff Wagenheim considers himself a pacifist (except when driving in traffic) but nonetheless writes about mixed martial arts, the world's most combative sport (other than driving in traffic). As a veteran of three decades in magazines and newspapers, he's a bit grayer than most who attend UFC fights, even along press row. (A fan watching an MMA media panel show recently referred to him as "that crazy hippie uncle," to which Jeff responds, "Groovy, man!") Wagenheim also has tackled pro football for SI.com, and writes about sports and the arts for The Boston Globe. When he's not on the road chasing the UFC, Jeff spends Sunday afternoons spinning Sleepy LaBeef and Boozoo Chavis records for a popular (but not pop) radio show in western Massachusetts.