Cormier opts for surgery, hopes to fight in four months

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier tore his right adductor muscle near the groin, and was unable to fight Anthony Johnson at UFC 207 on December 10. We appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, and said he was undecided on whether or not to have surgery.

His options were rest, rest with platelet-rich plasma injections, or surgery.

“I don’t know, man,” said Cormier. “It’s a weird deal because I always try not to have surgery. That’s kind of my thing. I do whatever I can to not go under the knife. I’ve got some decisions to make. … I told [the doctor] I would like the fastest way back to the Octagon.”

Now it was reported on UFC Tonight that Cormier will undergo surgery Thursday to repair the groin tear. DC expects to return to training in eight weeks, and hopes to be ready to fight in four months. That pushes the fight with Johnson into April, later than the February or March date Cormier had hoped for.

DC has pulled out of multiple high profile fights, but in fairness, he has as many times had opponents pull out. These include Frank Mir in September of 2012, Rashad Evans in February of 2014, and Jon Jones in August of 2014.

Johnson said he would wait for the light heavyweight title shot vs. Cormier, but was open to a fight at heavyweight.