CORMIER TOPS MIOCIC AT WEIGH-IN

was a NCAA runnerup in 2001 as an Oklahoma State senior, and also competed in the Olympics. Miocic has plenty of wrestling experience, too, as a state runner-up as a senior at Eastlake North. He also wrestled in college at Cleveland State.

The biggest advantage Miocic has on Cormier is one of size, even though Cormier checked in at 246 pounds for his official weigh-in on July 6. Miocic weighed in at 242. Cormier says that size disadvantage he will face isn’t anything new.

“Every person I fight is bigger than me,” he said. “Last time I fought someone I was bigger than was 2010, and I felt like Muhammad Ali out there with a reach advantage. It’s the same, these guys are the all the same.

“I approach them all the same way. I’m going to go forward, try to walk him down and exhaust him. I’m gonna take him down, try to wear on him and pressure fight him. I’m not going to try and reinvent the wheel nine years into my career. I’m 5-11 at best with my tall shoes, and I’m a grinder, and that’s what I’m going to do to Stipe.”

Expect Miocic to counter any attempts by Cormier When Daniel Cormier weighed in last January the day before UFC 220 in Boston, he checked in at 205 pounds. Six months later, Cormier — who is still the light heavyweight champion — checked in at 246 pounds during official UFC 226 weigh-ins July 6 at the Park MGM. Cormier’s weight is notable because reports from his camp hinted he might push more than 230 pounds. He pushed way past that weight — four pounds more than heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who weighed in at 242 pounds. The added weight was an issue as Cormier began fight preparations, but that eventually subsided. “It was difficult early on in training camp with all the extra weight because I was trying to do everything I used to do as a light heavyweight,” he said. “I was a little sore early on (in camp) but once I got into shape, I felt great.”

with his short, but affective straight right. Before his fiveround unanimous decision over Francis Ngannou at UFC 220 in Boston — which featured a grind-it-out style and numerous take downs by Miocic — the champion made quick work out of past champions Fabricio Werdum and Junior dos Santos with first-round knockouts courtesy of that right hand.

“I think everyone wants to end the night early,” Miocic said. “Who doesn’t want to get a knockout and go home early? Knockout, decision, submission, it doesn’t really matter. I’m getting my hand raised.”

It won’t be that easy. Cormier has officially never lost a match by a knockout. His lone setback was at light heavyweight to Jon Jones in 2015 by a five-round unanimous decision. Two years later, he lost again to Jones when he was KO’d in Round 3 with a kick to the head, but that was overturned to a no contest because Jones violated the UFC’s antidoping policy.

With a light heavyweight title, Cormier also will be carrying pride, so expect a fierce effort by him.

Miocic, though, is and will always be a determined fighter and champion who refuses to lose.

The heavyweight champion beats the light heavyweight champion by a fiveround unanimous decision.

Podolski can be reached at MPodolski@News-Herald. com; on Twitter: @mpodo