The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Confidence brimming for Miocic
Stipe Miocic can’t remember his last big birthday bash.
That’s because birthday parties aren’t his thing. This one could be different if the Eastlake North graduate and Cleveland firefighter has his way this weekend in California. He’s turning 37 on Aug. 19, and he can’t think of a better birthday gift for himself.
That’s because Miocic is confident as ever the shiny gold UFC heavyweight belt will again be his — two days early from his birthday.
When asked what kind of birthday celebration it would be with the shiny new belt draped across his shoulder, Miocic said via phone from Anaheim, Calif., “You’ll find out on the 19th. I tell you this, it will be crazy cuz it’s gonna happen.”
On Aug. 13, five days before stepping into the octagon to take on champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 241 on Aug. 17 in Anaheim, Miocic was resting in his hotel room, waiting for the arrival of his coaching staff, and his wife Ryan and 1-year-old daughter Meelah.
It was the calm before the storm in the build-up to one of the most anticipated UFC fights of 2019 — perhaps the most anticipated. The layers of storylines from the past 13 months are thick and heavy.
Miocic has waited more than a year for a rematch with Cormier, who won the belt from the ex-champ with a first-round knockout last July in Las Vegas. It ended a two-plus-year title reign for Miocic, who did all he could to get an immediate rematch. Cormier and UFC president Dana White had another idea.
They spent months trying to set up a bout with WWE’s Brock Lesnar, but that never materialized. In the meantime, Cormier fought last December and beat Derrick Lewis. Miocic’s manager Jim Walter told The News-Herald Miocic was ready to fight in December, but said he was
told by the UFC that Cormier “wasn’t available.”
Months passed, and Miocic was still waiting for a rematch.
A war of words via social media posts and interviews ensued with each side taking jabs back and forth. It was a far cry from what looked like a friendly relationship in the months leading up to their first fight last July.
Cormier and Miocic were the coaches for the 27th season of UFC’s reality show “The Ultimate Fighter.” Then Cormier upset Miocic, and things became not so friendly.
Their rematch was eventually announced, but
the back and forth hasn’t stopped and will likely continue this week in Anaheim.
“I don’t really talk to him on the phone, or get a beer with him,” said Miocic. “He’s a West Coast guy. I’m a Midwest guy. Simple as that.”
There’s also this: Miocic thinks Cormier is overconfident entering Aug. 17 since he won the first fight with a KO near the end of Round 1.
Said Miocic: “I think he thinks it’s going to be an easy fight.”
Cormier recently said Miocic isn’t “good enough” to defeat him. Miocic has said on many occasions — despite getting knocked out by Cormier — he is the better
fighter.
Each can lay claim to impressive resumes. Cormier is 22-1, and when he beat Miocic became the lightheavyweight and heavyweight champ. He eventually relinquished the lightheavyweight title. Miocic is 18-3 and is the only UFC heavyweight to defend the title three consecutive times.
“This fight will not be a cakewalk,” said Miocic. “Listen, in sports you never know what’s going to happen. But this fight is going to be a war.”
Miocic said he’s prepared to go five rounds, which he said would be, “Terrible. Going 25 minutes is not
fun, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
The reach and size advantage goes to Miocic, who’s 6-foot-4 compared to the 5-11 Cormier. Miocic’s reach also gives him an 8-inch advantage. Wisdom says the challenger should stick and move, stay away from the champ and attempt to wear out Cormier in the latter rounds, but Miocic vows to stay in attack mode.
“That’s the way I work, that’s my style. I come forward,” he said.
“When I go in a fight, I don’t play patty cake. It’s a fight. Of course, you want to be careful, but I’m going in there to win.”