UFC champ Daniel Cormier rips Papelbon's fighting technique

Gives him an 'A for effort,' and says Bryce Harper did the right thing by defending himself but, as the 'team captain,' possibly should have taken the high road.

By Dave Brown

Sep 29, 2015 at 1:13 pm ET • 1 min read

Many have given their opinions regarding Jonathan Papelbon attacking teammate Bryce Harper in the Nationals dugout Sunday afternoon. "Who was right? Who was wrong? What should happen next? What about the children?"

And now an expert in professional fighting has weighed in, giving his opinion on the form used by Papelbon against the likely NL MVP. Via TMZ, the UFC's light heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier, says this:

"Terrible. The fighting skill... you won't find that in the octagon. But, you know what? 'A' for effort."

Sounds like a reasonable opinion. Cormier made two comments about Harper, saying it was good of him to defend himself, but possibly a mistake -- being the 'team captain' -- to get into a fight in the first place. Well, he can't have it both ways, Champ!

(Cormier conflated Harper being the Nats' "team captain" with being the best player, but he gets an "A for effort," for having a baseball opinion. And also having sharing the last name of all-time LOOGY Rheal Cormier. It's also a little ironic, Harper being a "captain," given the opinion of some that he needs leadership.)

Watch the entire interview, which includes a TMZ reporter with a great Australian accent who also has apparent knowledge of American baseball:

In defense of his title, Cormier is scheduled to fight Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192 on Saturday night. Be careful to watch for any choke holds Cormier tries.