The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Miocic talks revenge, but cautiously
Stipe Miocic was in Dallas this past weekend having fun with his next opponent, Junior dos Santos.
Stipe Miocic was in Dallas this past weekend having fun with his next opponent, Junior dos Santos.
The next time the two fighters meet in Dallas, it won’t be as pleasant.
As it was on March 24, Miocic and dos Santos were in the Lone Star state to promote their May 13 fight at UFC 211.
The heavyweights did a flex off for a crowd at American Airlines Arena, mingled with Mavericks players before an NBA game, and even participated in a BBQ eating contest.
At the heart of the matter was an opportunity for the UFC heavyweight champion of the world to further cement his legacy. The last heavyweight to defeat the Eastlake North graduate was dos Santos. That was a close, tough and bloody five-round decision in 2014 that went to dos Santos.
Three years later, Miocic is
the champ, and still improving, he said. He wants badly to make amends for that loss.
While promoting the fight in Dallas, Miocic used the “R” word, but did so in the right way.
That will be key if the champ keeps the belt vs. dos Santos.
Revenge can be a tricky thing for individuals and teams, mostly because the emotion of that thought process can potentially cloud bigger goals such as sticking with a game plan and executing it.
“When you lose to someone, you want to get it back, no matter what. You have to,” said Miocic while on his press tour in Dallas. “Not in a terrible, mean way like, ‘I want to rip his face off.’ But I want to get that revenge. I want to avenge that loss and get a ‘W’ on that. It’s like, ‘All right, good. You beat me once buddy, I got you back,’ you know?”
In all forms of combat sports — boxing or mixed martial arts — the heavyweight division can be volatile. One minute, a fighter is the champ, the next he or she is on their back wondering what just happened.
Case in point former champion Fabricio Werdum, who entered the octagon last May against the challenger Miocic smiling and blowing kisses for a hometown crowd in Brazil. A few minutes later, he was in a daze, and laid out on the canvas from a short right by Miocic.
Ever since, Werdum has been clamoring for a rematch with Miocic to get back the belt he once wore.
Miocic never went to lengths Werdum has displayed for a rematch with dos Santos, but it’s here. Revenge is a natural reaction in any form of competition. Harnessing that emotion is the fine line between staying on top of the UFC world, or being in the position Werdum is today. Miocic doesn’t want to experience that.
He had his share of humble pie stemming from the loss to dos Santos three years ago.
“I think every time you lose, that definitely is a blessing because it does help,” said Miocic, recalling back to his loss to dos Santos. “Sometimes it shows you’re human when you think you’re unstoppable. That fight definitely showed me a lot about myself, and a lot about my heart and my pride, and I know I can get better. I’m just scratching the surface.”
Controlling his emotions could put Miocic on the cusp of history with a win over dos Santos. No UFC heavyweight has defended that shiny gold belt more than twice. A win against dos Santos would be title defense No. 2 for Miocic. Naturally, that talk has already begun. While Miocic’s focus from now until May 13 is all on dos Santos, he’s well aware of the state of the heavyweight division. Two upand-comers are emerging in Derrick Lewis of New Orleans and Francis Ngannou of France. Ngannou is ranked No. 5 in the heavyweight division by UFC. com and is 10-1. Lewis is No. 6 with an 18-4 record.
“They’re very tough. They’re young, they’re hungry, and they want a piece too,” said Miocic. “But just like everyone in the division, everyone’s got a hole in their game ... If they come up and go for the title when I’m still champ, then OK. Unfortunately, they’re not gonna get past me.”
That talk will be magnified only with a Miocic win over dos Santos. The countdown to the main event at UFC 211 is at 48 days and counting. Fun was had promoting the bout last weekend, but that time is over. It’s down to business for both.
“We talk a lot actually, but inside the octagon with our fists,” dos Santos tweeted on March 24.
Said Miocic: “Of course, closer to the fight, we’re not going to be all chummy ... We’re having a good time, but several weeks from now, it’ll be a different story.”