UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is dealing with a lingering back injury suffered during his November victory over Derrick Lewis and has no timetable set for his next fight.
"I f----d my back up at UFC 230," Cormier told Damon Martin of MMA Weekly. "It hasn't recovered as fast as I hoped it would.
"I have to take some time off. I had to take some time to try and make myself healthy because my schedule was so heavy last year. Three fights, three five-round training camps, very heavy training camps. Last year was three championship fights, I did 'The Ultimate Fighter', I did all my commentary duties, I took that high school wrestling job in the middle of the year. It's just a heavy, heavy year, and I just need some time to get myself back in order."
Cormier had originally set a target retirement date in March, prior to his 40th birthday, but the former two-division champion said his plan will now be altered.
The injury won't require surgery, but the UFC's No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter said he'll focus on rest before planning his next bout.
"Once I heal up, I can start looking forward to what's next, but right now it's just handle these injuries," he said. "I'm just waiting. I'm just waiting and when I feel better we'll talk. Me and the UFC will talk when I get better and we'll decide on a date and then we'll go forward with a fight."
A number of big-time names have been rumored as Cormier's next - and possibly final - opponent, including Stipe Miocic, Brock Lesnar, and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, though Cormier has claimed he's uninterested in a potential trilogy fight with Jones.
