The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Miocic to fight Cormier July 7
Super fight in Las Vegas will pit champs vs. each other
From one super fight to the next.
That’s what’s in store for UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
The UFC announced Jan. 26, Miocic will put his title on the line vs. light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier July 7 at UFC 226 in Las Vegas at T-Moblie Arena.
Cormier fought in the co-main event Jan. 20 at UFC 220 in Boston, where he defended his belt. Now, Cormier will move up a weight class to take on Miocic, who he got to know well last summer while the two recorded the Fox Sports 1 UFC show “In the Clinch” in Cleveland.
Miocic will be looking to defend his belt for a fourth straight time, which would extend his own record set in Boston when he won a unanimous decision against No. 1 contender Francis Ngannou. Cormier (20-1) checked in at 205 for his bout at UFC 220, while Miocic (18-2) weighed in at 246 pounds.
“Yeah for sure. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere”
– Stipe Miocic after UFC 220 about a possible bout with Daniel Cormier.
The 6-foot-4 Miocic will also have a height advantage. Cormier is 5-11.
While the size advantage goes to Miocic, an equalizer could be if the bout turns into a wrestling match. Miocic was a standout wrestler at Eastlake North — where he was a state runner-up as a 215-pound senior — and Cleveland State. Cormier’s wrestling credentials are even more impressive. He won three Louisiana state titles in high school, then spent two years at a community college before transferring to Oklahoma State.
As a senior in 2001, Cormier advanced to the 184-pound NCAA Final, but lost to Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson, 8-4.
UFC president Dana White hinted after UFC 220 he was interested in a Cormier-Miocic super fight matchup.
Said Miocic in his UFC 220 post-fight news conference: “Yeah for sure. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere.”
Cormier said after UFC 220 he wouldn’t get in the way of a possible Cain Velasquez-Stipe Miocic fight, but any hope for that matchup has been shelved in favor of the super fight set for July 7.
Adding more juice to the bout is another announcement. Miocic will coach opposite Cormier for the 27th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which debuts April on Fox Sports 1.