Miocic ‘more motivated than ever’

About an hour after losing the UFC heavyweight title to Daniel Cormier July 7 in Las Vegas, Stipe Miocic said in his postfight news conference he wanted a rematch.

Perhaps to get the point across one more time, Miocic went to Twitter on July 9 with the same message to Cormier: Let’s get in the octagon again with the championship belt at stake.

“Congrats to DC,” Miocic said in a July 9 Tweet. “Didn’t get the chance to say it in the cage, but lets dance again and get a rematch before you call it a career. Thx to my coaches and team. Being the greatest heavyweight in UFC history is a career-long journey and doesn’t end here. I’m more motivated than ever!”

When asked after his stunning loss by first-round knockout about fighting Cormier again, Miocic said, “Of course I want a rematch.”

Any official talk of that will have to wait. UFC president Dana White president confirmed after UFC 226 Cormier will fight WWE champ Brock Lesnar, who’s been rumored to make his return to the UFC for some time.

A snag in that return is Lesnar’s suspension by the UFC. In 2016, Lesnar defeated Mark Hunt. Then after that bout it was revealed he violated UFC’s anti-doping policy. When he returned to the WWE, and eventually became the heavyweight champion, his UFC suspension went into a holding pattern.

White said when Lesnar returns to the UFC, he would have to finish off

that suspension. According to a flocombat.com story, Lesnar will be put back in the UFC drug testing pool, and if all goes well he will be eligible to return to the octagon after Jan. 8, 2019.

Cormier told the media his time table to retirement, and that could impact the rematch Miocic wants.

What is known is Cormier’s next bout at heavyweight. It gets murky after that considering the next logical fight for Cormier — regardless of the outcome of the Lesnar fight — would have lean toward his obligation as light heavyweight champion.

Cormier said not having to cut weight down to 205 (light heavyweight) helped with his strength vs. Miocic, and it showed with the short right that floored Miocic. Plus, any fight short of Jon Jones at light heavyweight

wouldn’t be of interest to Cormier.

“If it’s not Lesnar, Miocic or Jones, not big enough,” said Cormier.

Jones beat Cormier twice at light heavyweight — the last in 2017 was changed to a no-contest after Jones was busted for drugs. Jones also tweeted on July 7 about his possible return to the UFC.

“Just keep in mind that life is a journey and not a race,” said Jones in the tweet. “If it’s in Gods will for me to still be here and healthy, please believe that they’ll be many more fights to come. Let’s not forget I’m still the youngest guy in the top 5 at HW & LHW.”

Thrown into all of this is Cormier’s intention to retire March 20, the day he turns 40.

“If Stipe wants to fight me again it better be before March 20,” said Cormier.