Daniel’s hungry
KONTA HIT BY ANOTHER HEART SCARE
DANIEL CORMIER has promised a new slimline look ahead UFC 252 this weekend – but is determined to add 20lbs of heavyweight gold to his waist by the end of it.
‘DC’ takes on champion Stipe Miocic for the third time in Las Vegas, with both fighters having earned a victory over the other.
And Cormier, who defeated Miocic for the title in July 2018 before dropping it back to him just over a year later, feels he has got himself in great shape for their trilogy fight.
The 41-year-old said: “I was on that big boy diet, but today I feel ready to go.
“It was tough but we got back into shape and ready to fight.”
American Cormier, a former Olympic wrestler, believes he has learnt the lessons of his fourth-round TKO loss to Miocic, adding: “I plan to use more of my wrestling, I’ve worked a lifetime to acquire these skills.
“By no means can I not stand and fight Stipe for 25 minutes. The smarter way to get my hand raised is to use all my tools.
“The reality is I am going to smash him.”
JO KONTA will undergo fresh tests after suffering from heart palpitations in her defeat at the Lexington Open in Kentucky. The British No.1 (left) needed medical attention before going back on to court after consulting a doctor as she was beaten by world No.48 Marie Bouzkova.
The loss was marred by the fourth spell of palpitations in her career which left her feeling briefly lightheaded.
Konta, 29, said: “We are keeping an eye on it, having all the heart checks.
“It can happen and I am susceptible to it.
“I wouldn’t say I am worried but obviously it’s not ideal.
“I am going to have another test, check it and see what other protocols we can take.
“Hopefully we’ll measure it when it happens again. Then we’ll have more information.”
The tournament is the first WTA Tour event in America since March and the incident is a concern for Konta ahead of this month’s US Open, where she was a quarterfinalist last year.
She added: “I wouldn’t say there’s a massive common denominator. We don’t know why it happens, it’s been under stressful situations, in non-stressful situations.
“It’s one of those things you need to catch it in the moment and be able to record it and measure, which we haven’t been able to do as it has been sporadic.”
Having held serve, world No.15 Konta halted proceedings two points into
■ the second game. Hunched over her racket, she appeared to be breathing heavily and her face was flushed.
After having her blood pressure and pulse checked and consulting the doctor, Konta was able to return.
But she struggled to play her best after the worrying early episode.
She battled on to 3-3 before Bouzkova, of Czech Republic, secured the first break of the match and took the opening set 6-4 before winning the second by the same score.