The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Miocic’s comeback stuff of legends
It was a performance straight out of a “Rocky” movie.
Bruised, battered and at times staggering — but still standing — Stipe Miocic is again the UFC heavyweight champion. Miocic has the belt again because on Aug. 17 against former champ Daniel Cormier he refused to lose. Miocic reached into his reserves and delivered a performance that will define his legacy as arguably the greatest UFC heavyweight — if anyone wants to argue it.
“I dug down deep,” said Miocic in the post-fight.
Indeed he did, but it wasn’t all guts and determination. A clever tactical adjustment in Round 4 was the difference because it’s safe to say at the time of his knockout of former champ Cormier, Miocic was likely losing the fight on the judge’s scorecards.
The Eastlake North graduate admitted it didn’t look good earlier in the fight. He attributed his slow start to a bit of “ring rust” after a 13-month layoff since his last fight — a loss to Cormier in July 2018.
“I wasn’t me,” said Miocic. “It took me a little time to find my mojo.”
Just like Rocky Balboa in “Rocky” and “Rocky II” — who found success by going to the body against Apollo Creed — Miocic’s mojo in the rematch came via left hooks to Cormier’s midsection. The shots provided devastating results.
The comeback began at 3 minutes, 5 seconds of Round 4 with the first left hook.
Here’s the breakdown in order of Miocic punches:
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the face
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Left hook to the body
• Straight right to the face
• Left hook to the body
• Left/right combo that staggered Cormier
• Two big rights to Cormier’s face against the cage
• A flurry of left and rights as Cormier dropped
to his knees
The fight was stopped with 51 seconds remaining in the round.
In 2 minutes and 14 seconds, Miocic changed UFC heavyweight history, and added to his legacy. Before losing to Cormier, Miocic set the UFC heavyweight record with three consecutive title defenses. In beating Cormier, he also finished off the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
Still, few could have predicted Round 4 would play out that way after watching the first 10 minutes of the fight.
In Round 1, Miocic landed five leg kicks, two jabs and a right before Cormier got in on his legs, lifted him up, threw him to the ground and rode him for the rest of the fiveminute period. Miocic was
more active in the second round, but Cormier continued to get in with shots — many which staggered the challenger.
“He’s a really good fighter,” said Miocic about Cormier. “He makes people uncomfortable.”
It wasn’t until the latter part of Round 3 that Miocic started to swing the momentum. Two left/right combos were impressive, and at the 1:35 mark of the round, he took down Cormier, got in a knee kick to the body and closed out the period with two solid rights.
Then Miocic’s fourth round for the ages unfolded. It was a legacy round for sure — a moment for which he’ll always be remembered.
A few years ago, Miocic would have likely
shrugged off a word such as “legacy,” much the same way he did when he was chasing the record for most consecutive title defenses.
Things are different for the birthday boy. Miocic turns 37 on Aug. 19.
“At first, I was like, ‘Heck with the legacy.’ Now I’m all about legacy,” he said. “Being a good dude, a good fighter. I’ve gone through a lot of adversity. It’s never been an easy road. I like it being hard because it makes it that much sweeter.”
Talk about a memorable night for the new champ. His legacy is secure and so is the heavyweight belt.