Skip to main content
Ronaldo Junior Had Match Of The Night Last FPI And Thanked Exciting Matchmaking, But Is Looking To Level Up Again At The FIGHT PASS Invitational 8.
UFC Fight Pass

Cormier Sees Fury FC As O’Connor’s Perfect Starter Home | UFC FIGHT PASS

Daniel Cormier Feels Confident Fury FC Is The Perfect Home For Two-Time NCAA Champion Austin O’Connor
By Walker Van Wey • Jun. 7, 2024

With his finger on the pulse of the MMA landscape for years and a keen eye on fellow Oklahoma State Cowboys turned fighters Nick Piccininni and Jacobe Smith, Daniel Cormier knew exactly where to send the biggest debuting prospect of 2024, Austin O’Connor.

Fury FC.

Cormier knew the two- time NCAA National Champion may come into a new sport with endless trouble with every aspect of the game outside of making weight and fighting.

UFC 304 IN MANCHESTER: Buy Tickets | VIP Experiences 

The politics of promotions, the low-ball offers, the reputation of promoters, even simply finding fights are never-ending battles for debuting prospects. Now out of the “getting punched” business, Cormier has watched the landscape of MMA expand massively. Every state has multiple promotions, prospects from Alaska to Guam don’t have to look far to find a cage, but it comes with issues.

Not one to have the wool pulled over his eyes for his guys, Cormier’s ability to get any promoter on the phone within minutes came in handy long before O’Connor traded wrestling shoes for four-ounce gloves when the former double champ was trying to find the perfect home for Smith and Piccininni.

“You have to find a promoter that understands building stars and also finding them the matchups that ultimately they can compete in, and opponents that are willing to fight them,” Cormier explained.

TUF 32: Episode 1 Recap | How To Watch

In addition to the star building process, Cormier has also been pleased with the Fury FC roster. Matching a guy with two National titles or a Spencer Lee pin is one of the hardest asks of a promoter, but “DC” has watched Fury FC not only bring in Cormier’s fellow Cowboys, but also Gavin Teasdale, Anthony Cassar, Geno Morelli and more, and they never have trouble finding fights.

Furthermore, Fury FC President Eric Garcia isn’t simply finding easy marks to go eat the canvas for a quick payday; Cormier sees legitimate opponents in the Fury FC stable.

“You’ve got guys that don’t want to fight these great wrestlers because it makes for terrible fights,” Cormier said. “You want guys that believe they can win. Austin’s opponent believes he can beat him. That’s why he accepted the fight and he’s going to fight him in that way. Piccinnini is one of our guys, too. Jacobe Smith is one of our guys, too. We have built a relationship now with Eric and Fury that we can pass a guy through a promotion and ultimately get them to the big stage where we intend to have Austin, Nick, and Jacobe.”

Now in the second part of his journey in the MMA world, Cormier looks forward to doing the one thing he may love more than winning fights in the Octagon: coaching.

In the next couple decades it’ll be a shock to nobody if the pipeline from NCAA to UFC doesn’t get one hell of a boost from the American Kickboxing Academy, and as long as Cormier is in the gym and Garcia is in Houston, there will be room for Cormier’s wrestlers in the Fury FC cage.

“Eric Garcia is a great guy and a great promoter, and he understands building,” Cormier said. “That’s what we need for Austin right now is someone that can build him to the point that he’s ready to go into Contender Series and ultimately the UFC.”

Catch Austin O’Connor’s MMA Debut LIVE At Fury FC 91, Sunday, June 9, ONLY On UFC FIGHT PASS! 

Tags
UFC FIGHT PASS