Daniel Cormier apologizes to Anthony Johnson for trying to fight him in the streets of Las Vegas

If it's up to Daniel Cormier, his recent feud with Anthony "Rumble" Johnson will end with bygones being bygones. The once-again UFC light heavyweight champ tore Johnson a new one following word that Johnson might come out of retirement, labeling his former opponent as "f**king soft" amongst other insults on his podcast.

That prompted a response from "Rumble," which prompted an even larger explosion from Cormier that he now regrets. He got into the particulars on the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio.

"The reality is, I texted him, and I said some things that weren’t very cool," Cormier admitted. "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 should not have called him soft."

"My wife, she goes ‘I get it. You’re a man, you’re from Louisiana. You don’t like to be disrespected. So when you feel a challenge, you go at it head on.’ But she goes ‘You were wrong. You didn’t have to say that about him in the first place. What was the point? You won both fights.’ But, again, it’s just me looking at competition a certain way. And I guess just expecting people to do it too. And it really doesn’t have to be that way.”

“The reality is, I was wrong,” Cormier finished. “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.”

Sounds like a pretty legit apology that should tide things over ... until perhaps Cormier and Johnson meet again at heavyweight. That's assuming "Rumble" does return. At this point a comeback sounds pretty conditional on the UFC paying him more money, something a lot of fighters are angling for but the promotion doesn't seem too eager to deliver.