DANIEL CORMIER has named his top five best fighters of all time... with Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of Muhammad Ali.
Cormier, 43, has selected his American Kickboxing Academy team-mate Khabib over Ali – but NOT No1 on his list.
Appearing on ESPN’s First Take – DC left Stephen A. Smith in disbelief when he only selected Ali on third.
Justifying his decision, Cormier said: “So hear me out you might disagree with me on this, Muhammad Ali at No3.
“One of the greatest boxers of all-time, what he did transcended the sport. But here is the difference, he was a pillar of our community.
“He did so many things outside of the boxing ring, and I think that is why we elevate him to the greatest boxer of all-time.”;
Smith, 55, bellowed in response: “Thrilla in Manila, Rumble in the Jungle, beating Joe Frazier, beating George Foreman are you kidding me?”;
Cormier went on: “I get it but I have reserved the top of my list for the undefeated. He was not undefeated.
“At two we put in Khabib Nurmagomedov and he was 29-0.
“The way that he beat Conor McGregor was second to none and he could have defended his belt as many times as he wanted.”;
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Ahead of both Ali and Khabib on Cormier’s list is 50-0 boxing royalty Floyd Mayweather.
On his selection, DC added: “And at No1 we have Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather who is the greatest-boxer of all-time, he is also the greatest promoter.
“He beat Canelo, he beat Manny Pacquiao and Canelo and it doesn’t matter when he beat them, they all got beat.”;
DC rounded off his top five with two further UFC legends.
In fourth place is Canadian former two-weight champion Georges St-Pierre.
And rounding off the list is UFC women’s featherweight and bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.
