The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Miocic: Cormier or no one
Ex-champ waits while the Lesnar situation is resolved
Miocic lost the belt to Cormier when he was knocked out in Round 1 on July 7 at UFC 226 in Las Vegas.
Stipe Miocic hasn’t watched the fight. He probably never will.
“I know what I did wrong,” said the former UFC heavyweight champion who threw out the first pitch at Progressive Field before the Indians’ Aug. 6 game vs. the Twins.
Miocic is also sure of something else. The Eastlake North graduate said he will only next fight against Daniel Cormier for the heavyweight belt — or he’s not fighting at all.
“No. Nope,” said Miocic if he would consider fighting anyone else but Cormier next. “It’s DC and that’s it.”
Miocic lost the belt to Cormier when he was knocked out in Round 1 on July 7 at UFC 226 in Las Vegas. The loss ended Miocic’s two-plus year reign as champion. It also ended his consecutive title defense streak at three — a record for UFC heavyweights.
“It was one bad night at the office,” said Miocic. “Sometimes it’s good to get knocked down. It shows you’re human.”
While Miocic and his team are fighting hard to get a rematch against Cormier, there are complications. After UFC 226, UFC president Dana White said WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar, who’s reportedly returning to the octagon, will get the first crack at Cormier’s belt.
That potential title fight also has complications, and is adding to Miocic’s frustration.
First, a Cormier-Lesnar bout does not have a date because Lesnar is reportedly still serving a suspension for testing positive for PEDs. The WWE champion hasn’t fought since 2016, when he failed a drug test. Lesnar reportedly has been 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.
“If all goes well” might be the key words for Lesnar’s potential return to UFC. Miocic said he’s heard talk among his fellow UFC fighters of growing frustration about Lesnar, and the treatment he’s received from White.
Asked if he would watch if Lesnar fights Cormier, Miocic said emphatically “no.”
Lesnar’s popularity would no doubt be a boon for pay-per-view buys on whichever UFC event he headlines, but there’s also this: Does Lesnar deserve a title shot based on his UFC record? He’s fought just four times this decade, and only once since 2016. Lesnar fought three times in 2010. He’s 1-2 with a no-contest since 2010. Miocic said that track record doesn’t warrant a rematch, and if there’s another Lesnar setback before or after a possible Cormier matchup...
“There probably will be,” said Miocic. “There’s always something (with Lesnar), and if (it comes to that) it will make everyone look bad.”
Another factor in Miocic’s defense: He’s currently the No. 1-ranked heavyweight contender. Lesnar can’t be ranked while on suspension, but considering his inactivity in the octagon it would seem unlikely he would be ranked inside the top 10 even if he was not suspended.
Cormier is the heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, and also a popular UFC analyst. He was working the UFC 227 event, and on Aug. 4 he addressed Miocic.
“I’ll tell you this on record: If Brock Lesnar doesn’t make it to the fight for any reason, I’ll fight Stipe again,” said Cormier on the UFC 227 post show. “That is not a problem. There is no reason I wouldn’t fight Stipe. I’m only fighting Brock because I’m fighting Brock. But if he doesn’t make it, I’ll fight Stipe again. There you go.”
Miocic, who turns 36 on Aug. 19, appreciated Cormier’s comments, but wants more.
“Listen ... yes, I want the rematch,” he said. “I know he wants to fight me again. I want to get my belt back. It wasn’t my night, but I’m the better fighter. I know I’m the better fighter. He caught me with a good shot. What am I gonna do about it? It won’t happen again.”
Miocic has tweeted at Cormier, and said the two have talked by phone. The only specifics he would reveal are these: “He wants to talk about my daughter. I want to talk about the fight.”
On Aug. 7, Miocic returns to training with Coach Marcus Marinelli and the rest of his staff at Strong Style gym in Independence. It’s been a relaxing month recovering from the July 7 fight, and celebrating the birth of his daughter Meelah with his wife Ryan, but Miocic has his focus set on one goal.
“I’ll be back,” said Miocic. “It sucks right now. Nothing’s perfect, but I’ll be fine. I’ll get my rematch.”