Coach: Miocic ‘probably needs’ sore leg checked out

Junior dos Santos said he “felt good” attacking Stipe Miocic early on in their heavyweight championship bout May 13 in Dallas at UFC 211.

Then Miocic put the pressure on, and about a minute later, the champion landed a hard right, then a flurry a fast lefts as dos Santos fell to his knees.

It was good night to dos Santos, as Miocic retained the belt. In hindsight, that quick knockout — in 2 minutes, 22 seconds — was probably the best for Miocic.

Before the KO, dos Santos landed three solid leg kicks to Miocic’s lower left leg, the last two seemingly having the biggest effect.

Miocic appeared to favor his left leg just before landing his vicious right to dos Santos’ jaw.

Announcers during the UFC telecast noticed the hits by dos Santos and the effect it was having on Miocic. Replays showed a welt on Miocic’s left shin area.

How much those leg kicks are long-lasting is still

up in the air, said Miocic’s coach Marcus Marinelli.

On May 15, two days after the UFC 211 fight, he said this about the status of the heavyweight champ:

“Still not sure,” Marinelli told The News-Herald. “Probably needs to get checked.”

About nine hours later May 15, Marinelli said of Miocic, “I think he is OK.”

Marinelli did not elaborate further.

Miocic acknowledged in his post-fight news conference

the severity of the dos Santos kicks.

“He caught me with some good kicks,” Miocic said. “I’ll be sore . ... The kicks definitely hurt.”

That made Miocic ending the fight fast all the more important.

“First-round knockouts are nice,” he said.

Beyond Marinelli’s comments, it’s unknown publicly how severe any possible injury might be for Miocic.

What’s next for Miocic is

a shot at history.

When he fights next, he can become the first UFC heavyweight in history to defend the belt three straight times.

Four previous heavyweights have defended the belt two times, but each time lost trying to defend it a third time.

That’s not all for Miocic, 34, and his wife Ryan.

“(My wife and I) are trying to have a baby. Gotta put some work into that,” Miocic said.