Daniel Cormier discusses size difference in UFC 259 main event

Light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz weighed in on Friday at 205, and reportedly walks around at about 220. His opponent in UFC 259’s main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, weighed in well under the limit, at 200.5, his walking around weight. Former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier knows a lot about how much size matters in the sport, and was asked about the potential effects of the weight difference on Saturday night.

You feel the difference in the power,” said Cormier. “You can tell they punch a little harder when you’re used to something. But it just takes time to get started. Once you get started and get used to the power, the speed, and the pace which the fight is going to take place, it’s just another fight.

These guys have competed their whole lives, so nothing is really going to surprise him. You have to remember, Izzy has fought at heavyweight. He’s fought heavier guys, so this won’t be that difficult for him.

Adesanya intends to move up to heavyweight and some point, and fight Jon Jones.

He’s a tall guy, but if he were short, then it’s like, ‘This dude can’t fight 185 and then heavyweight.’ But he’s done it before,” said Cormier. “I think ultimately you have to make sure it’s the right kind of matchup if you’re playing with heavyweight. You don’t want to be fighting heavyweight with Francis [Ngannou] as a guy who’s coming from 185. But for the right matchup, yeah, I believe this kid can do whatever he wants. I think he’s just that good.

I don’t think he will go up to heavyweight in two fights – that’s crazy, Cormier said. You can’t go 185 to heavyweight in two fights. I think it will take some time.

But I think that this speaks to who Israel Adesanya is – that that’s even a conversation, that he could attempt to do something that outlandish. There was a time that nobody thought being a two-division champion was even possible, and now we’re talking about a guy who may pursue three titles, talking about a 20-pound jump to a 60-pound jump. That just speaks to the level of athlete that Adesanya is.

h/t Danny Segura for MMA Junkie