The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
What is next for Stipe Miocic?
LAS VEGAS » Five thoughts the day after Stipe Miocic’s stunning loss to Daniel Cormier, and the chaos that ensued after the UFC heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas July 7:
• It was a scene straight out of “Rocky III.” All who were missing were Thunderlips and Clubber Lang, but Brock Lesnar and Daniel Cormier were good stand-ins.
It was easy to understand Stipe Miocic wanted no part of the fiasco that ensued following Cormier’s big knockout of the former champion at UFC 226.
While Cormier was celebrating with the belt, he called out Lesnar, and a WWE/UFC crossover free-for-all ensued.
Dana White said up next for the new champ is the WWE’s Lesnar. That hype is already in over drive, even if Cormier said the two have been friendly in the past.
“I guess when he gets into the octagon, things change for him,” said Cormier.
After Cormier called out Lesnar, the WWE star and former UFC champion entered the octagon and spouted just about every F bomb possible at Cormier and Miocic. White had to love every minute of it, with dreams of future payper-view buys dancing in his head. The Lesnar-Cormier date hasn’t been confirmed, but first blood has been drawn.
Lesnar screamed “(expletive) Miocic!” and told Cormier, “I’m coming after you (expletive).” He then shoved Cormier.
It all started when Cormier saw Lesnar in the hallways of T-Mobile Arena preparing for the main event.
“I saw him there smirking at me, so I thought, ‘Well I guess Brock Lensar’s here to pick a fight,” said Cormier. “So I called him out. I told him I’m gonna kick his butt. And I will kick his butt.
“He does fake fighting. So I’ll do fake fighting until I put my fist upside your face.”
A dejected Miocic and his coaches immediately left the octagon when the LesnarCormier sideshow began. Smart move by Miocic and his crew.
On July 8, the UFC teetered on that WWE line, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing for White and Co.
• The new champ had a three-part plan entering UFC 226, and not many believed he could pull off the first part. Brock Lesnar pushes UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier after Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic on July 7 at UFC 226 in Las Vegas. It would take a win over Miocic happen in March — or somewhere — which Cormier delivered before or after — that — then a match vs. Lesnar. would give the former champ That will happen, said about an eight-month break White. with his family. Mioic could
What will be interesting is also consider a bout against if Cormier takes out Lesnar. a lesser opponent to cleanse Cormier also said he might himself of the KO he just endured. want a third opportunity against light heavyweight Jon Either way, it would be Jones. Cormier lost to Jones shocking if Miocic, at age 35, in 2015, then again in 2017, decided to stop fighting. The but that fight was changed to guess here is his competitive a no contest when Jones was juices won’t allow him to busted for drugs. do that.
As a two-division champ, A lot can happen, and Cormier said he “holds all the change in eight months, but cards,” and he’s right. don’t count out Miocic just
Cormier turns 40 on yet. He has a huge following March 20, and he said that’s in UFC fan circles, and the date he plans to retire his humble ways could be the from combat sports. Plans setup for a redemption story change sometimes, and if that grabs headlines and attention. Cormier beats Lesnar, there could be a push for a rematch • Miocic has to be devastated with Miocic, who said he following the Cormier wants a break to spend time loss, but after a few days with his wife, who’s pregnant. of reflection, he should look The couple is having their back at the last two years and first child, a daughter who’s three months with plenty of due in August. pride. What he accomplished
If Miocic-Cormier II does in breaking the UFC heavyweight
title defense mark at three is a great achievement.
The heavyweight division is so volatile, and there’s a reason it took the UFC 25 years to produce a heavyweight champion that could defend the belt three straight times.
• The site of watching Miocic laid out on canvas was as surreal as it gets. For more than two years, he was nearly unbeatable. The only blemish was getting knocked down by Alistair Overeem in his first title defense in 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena. That lasted a few seconds, as Miocic got right back up and finished off Overeem a few minutes later.
• Miocic put on a mature face in wake of the defeat in his post-fight news conference. His face was battered, but he took the loss in stride — “I got beat, plain and simple,” he said — but by no means is he counting himself out of the heavyweight picture.
“Of course I want a rematch (with Cormier). But right now I’m focused on spending time with my family,” said Miocic.
Walking around with the moniker “Baddest Man on the Planet” can’t always be easy for the UFC heavyweight champ because with that title come expectations. Fans and critics will ask, “What happened?” But sometimes it’s not that complicated. The better fighter won on July 7, and that was Cormier.