Cormier: Winning title then retiring will put me alongside Jordan, Manning

Daniel Cormier says if he wins at UFC 252 and leaves mixed martial arts on top, his exit will compare to the retirements of legends in other sports.

The former two-division champion will complete his trilogy against current heavyweight titleholder Stipe Miocic in Saturday's main event in Las Vegas. Win or lose, the 41-year-old plans to retire after the contest.

"In mixed martial arts, yes. But then I think it puts you right alongside the greatest sports athletes of all time," Cormier said Thursday when asked if retiring with the heavyweight title would be MMA's greatest exit, according to MMA Fighting. "Michael Jordan won with the (Chicago) Bulls when they beat the (Utah) Jazz. Unfortunately he came back - I won't come back. Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl in his last season.

"It would put me in that type of sphere, with some of the greatest athletes that have ever competed across any sport. When I win on Saturday, I will retire that way."

Cormier will go down as one of the best fighters ever regardless of the outcome this weekend. "DC" has been the heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, and he was the second fighter in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously.