Last week, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier stirred up some drama when he called former foe Anthony Johnson “f**king soft” because of Johnson’s cordial relationship with Jon Jones. Johnson took offense and responded to Cormier, calling him a “cry baby ass” and saying that he and Cormier were never friends. Then Cormier got wind of Johnson’s response and suddenly the makings of a trilogy fight, possibly outside of the cage, were in play.

Not anymore though. Cormier recently told MMAJunkie Radio that after speaking with some friends and with the benefit of some distance from the beef, he realizes that he was at fault for the situation, and he walked back his statements calling “Rumble” soft.

“After Rumble put that post up, I tweeted him, but then I texted him because I was mad, like, ‘I’m mad. I want to fight.’ The reality is, I texted him and I said some things that weren’t very cool, but then I was talking to somebody that means a lot to me and they said, ‘Why are you so mad? You started it. You said stuff and you’re mad at him.’

“So the reality is, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have called him soft. I didn’t like the action but why do I expect so much out of him? Why do I expect him to not be able to be respectful and still compete at the highest level of the sport?

“So I walk it back a little bit. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything about him being soft. Everybody does not have to view competition like I do and I think that’s why – if he wants to be friends with [Jon] and be nice and cordial, then fine. What does that matter to me?”

Johnson is currently embroiled in rumors of a return to fighting after his unexpected retirement following his loss to Cormier at UFC 210 in April. Johnson retired from fighting to pursue a business in medical marijuana but Ali Abdel-Aziz, Johnson’s manager, recently told The MMA Hour that Johnson would be meeting with the UFC to discuss a possible return to fighting, this time as a heavyweight. And despite their recent unpleasantness, Cormier says that he hopes the rumors are true.

“I said it before: I hope he comes back because he should be fighting. He’s that good; but it was just so quick. . . It just seemed like he should have taken a little more time in regards to making that decision, but who am I to pick when he retires? I’ve just got a different way of viewing stuff, man. I guess that’s why I am who I am.”

In the end, Cormier believes that “different way of viewing stuff” was the genesis of this beef with a retired fighter he already beat twice, something that he says was beneath him. And never one to shy away from harsh truths, Cormier offered a sincere apology to Johnson and offered to make amends.

“I need to talk to Rumble and try to either apologize or make it right in some way, shape, or form. The reality is, I was wrong. Not everybody should view competition like I do. So to Anthony Johnson, I apologize. I should not have said that. I should not have said that. I should not have said that and because I said it, I have to truly expect him to respond and he did and because he responded, I should not try to fight him in the streets of Las Vegas. I’ve got to be better than that.”

---

MUST-READ STORIES

217. Michael Bisping vows to retire Georges St-Pierre once and for all.

Dana says. Dana White is hoping to finalize Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm “soon.”

Beer. The UFC has signed a new sponsorship deal with Modelo, replacing Bud Light.

Mouse trap. Demetrious Johnson “wanted to prove a point” against Ray Borg.

McNuggets. Tony Ferguson to Conor McGregor: “I will haunt your f**king dreams.”

Release. Ian McCall has been granted his release from the UFC.

---

VIDEO STEW

The official trailer for UFC 217.

The Pancrase weigh-in everyone is talking about.

DJ on TMZ.

Chael giving DJ some tips on how to sell more.

---

LISTEN UP

Bushido Talk. UFC 216 afterthoughts.

The Co-Main Event. Discussing the greatness of Mighty Mouse.

Anik & Florian. UFC 216 recap plus Ray Longo joins.

---

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

DJ.

The struggle is real.

Brooks.

DC back in the booth for 217.

Good stuff.

Saki does not lack confidence, that’s for sure.

Goddard on weight cutting.

Shameless.

WTF?

Ronda appears to be happy in her marriage.

---

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gokhan Saki (1-1) vs. Khalil Rountree (6-2); UFC 219, Dec. 30.

---

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2006: Tito Ortiz beat up Ken Shamrock for the third and final time at UFC Fight Night 6.5.

2009: Ben Henderson won the interim WEC lightweight title at WEC 43 when he won a unanimous decision over Donald Cerrone.

2014: Joe Warren unified the Bellator bantamweight titles when he won a unanimous decision over Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 128.

---

FINAL THOUGHTS

Wow. 69% of you think Demetrious Johnson is the GOAT. I’m not disagreeing I just did not expect it to be that high of a percentage. Mighty Mouse moved on up in the world after that submission, I guess.

Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.

---

EXIT POLL

---

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.