Cormier: If no Lesnar, Miocic gets title shot

UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier says if Brock Lesnar is unable to fight, former champ Stipe Miocic would get the next title shot. Miocic responded, “Name the time and place.”

Daniel Cormier has a backup plan if Brock Lesnar is unable to next fight the UFC heavyweight champion for whatever reason:

Stipe Miocic, whom Cormier took the belt away from with a firstround knockout about a month ago in Las Vegas, gets a rematch.

Cormier, who’s also the light heavyweight champion, said that while doing commentary work on TV at UFC 227 in Los Angeles Aug. 4.

Cormier made it clear, though, Lesnar is his next desired opponent. That because fighting Cormier would earn him a lot of cash.

“When you fight Lesnar, you get paid,” said Cormier July 8 after UFC 226.

A Cormier-Lesnar bout does not have a date because Lesnar is reportedly still serving a suspension for testing positive for PEDs. The WWE champion hasn’t fought since 2016, when he reportedly failed a drug test.

UFC president Dana White said after UFC 226 Cormier and Lesnar will be paired for the UFC’s next marquee heavyweight bout. According to a flocombat. com story, Lesnar has been put back in the UFC drug testing pool, and if all goes well he will be eligible to return after Jan. 8, 2019.

“I’ll tell you this on record: If Brock Lesnar doesn’t make it to the fight for any reason, I’ll fight Stipe again,” said Cormier on the UFC 227 post show. “That is not a problem.

“There is no reason I wouldn’t fight Stipe. I’m only fighting Brock because I’m fighting Brock. But if he doesn’t make it, I’ll fight Stipe again.”

Miocic tweeted on Aug. 5: “Name the time and place”

NBA

CAVS CLOSE TO TRADE » The Cavaliers are close to finalizing a trade to acquire forward Sam Dekker from the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Dekker has played three seasons in the NBA — the first two with the Houston Rockets and the 2017-18 season with the Clippers. He averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.1 minutes a game last season.

The Cavaliers will not have to give the Clippers a player but instead send them cash or future considerations, Wojnarowski reported. He reported the trade will be finalized Aug. 6 or Aug. 7.

The Clippers are trading Dekker to create a roster spot. Dekker would provide the Cavaliers depth at forward. The Cavaliers are getting Dekker’s expiring $2.8 million contract with the $5.8 million trade exception created when Kyrie Irving was traded to the Celtics in August of 2017.

Dekker, 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, was chosen by the Rockets with the 18th pick in the 2015 draft. He played in college at Wisconsin.

Dekker has averaged 5.3 points and three rebounds in 15.1 minutes a game over 153 games.

NFL

EAGLES HAND OUT EXTENSIONS » A Super Bowl victory gave Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman more job security.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed their coach and executive vice president of football operations to contract extensions through the 2022 season. Coming off the franchise’s first championship since 1960, the team announced the deals an hour before a sellout crowd watched an open practice Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field. Pederson is entering his third season as coach. He originally signed a four-year contract.