Although lots of certainly desire to hear more from Cormier about his future, as of today, the 41-year-old legend states he is done. Prior to leaving the UFCs Apex facility, he told commentator Joe Rogan he does not expect to combat again.
” Im not thinking about defending anything but titles, and I do not think of theres going to be a title in the future,” Cormier said. “Thats it for me. Ive had a long term. Its been fantastic. I just battled my last defend a heavyweight championship and it was a pretty great fight.”.
At the postfight press conference, White said he still does not think Cormier will retire, a prediction he made prior to the fight too.
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Miocic, on the other hand, said he will absolutely continue to battle, and even joked at the news conference about any rumors that he was also thinking about retiring.
Heavyweight competitor Francis Ngannou, who lost to Cormier in 2018 but has since won four battles via first-round knockout, viewed the battle from his house in Cameroon and told ESPN over the phone he would love to deal with Miocic in December. White confirmed at the news conference that Ngannou will get the next title shot.
If there is any wrench in those plans, it will be light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who likewise threw his name in the ring to deal with the heavyweight GOAT.
” Avoid Stipes right-hand man, Im too quick, Ill be too strong when the time is best and have way excessive energy,” Jones composed on Twitter. “Soon and really quickly Ill be considered the baddest male on this world.”.
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And oh, on top of all that, it would likewise serve as the final battle of Cormiers career. And Cormier struck initially in the opening round, when he staggered Miocic with a right hand just minutes before the bell.
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That shot destroyed what had been a respectable round to that point for Miocic. And two of the 3 judges scored it for Cormier.
Wouldnt you understand it, the same thing happened in the really next round, with the roles reversed. Cormier outlanded Miocic in the second round, but Miocic dropped him with a wide right cross in the final 10 seconds to take the round on all 3 judges scorecards.
” Did I drop?” Cormier asked his corner in between the third and 2nd rounds. “Did I drop?”.
” No,” his coach, Bob Cook, reacted. “But I need you to get your head in this game.”.
I cant see.
Acceptance. pic.twitter.com/JMNjKPzURz— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) August 16, 2020.
Miocic beat Cormier in the second meeting largely thanks to a midfight change– a decision to rip Cormiers body with left hands. He made another essential midfight change in the third fight– working the clinch.
About 90 seconds into the third round, Miocics corner informed him to push Cormier into the fence and keep him there. That position became a favorite of Miocics the remainder of the method, as he held Cormier in the clinch for prolonged stretches of time in the third, 4th and fifth rounds.
In the instant consequences of the fight, Cormier admitted that may have been the deciding factor in a very close fight. Judges eventually scored it for Miocic 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.
” I believe that separated the close rounds,” Cormier said.
Where was the fumbling?
Chael Sonnen breaks down Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier and discusses what the difference-maker was in Miocics unanimous decision success.
Ariel Helwani discusses what Daniel Cormiers UFC legacy will be following his retirement claims after losing his heavyweight title fight against Stipe Miocic.
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The smaller cage in the UFCs Apex facility was expected to favor Cormier, the more powerful wrestler and a former Olympian. And after abandoning fumbling in his second battle versus Miocic, Cormier vowed not to make the very same error Saturday.
2 Related” I like combating at the Apex,” Cormier stated earlier this summer on ESPNs DC & & Helwani Show. “That old leg is gon na be ideal in front of me to get. If you wish to see a 25-minute stand-up fight, thats not what youre getting. I hope Stipe has his wrestling shoes, since with the little cage, single-leg [takedown], single-leg, single-leg, single-leg– wrestling.”.
And Cormier did get a takedown in the preliminary, but that was it. He tried just another, and that was not successful.
Cormier had actually stated its not as simple it sounds to remove an athlete like Miocic, who said he had actually been dealing with his battling more this training school.
As it turned out, Miocic didnt require those wrestling shoes.
Opposite directions.
The fight included 5 close, competitive rounds. According to UFC Stats, Miocic landed 115 significant strikes in the bout. Cormier landed 105.
In rounds that close, moments can mean whatever. Noticeable damage means whatever. And Cormier struck initially in the opening round, when he staggered Miocic with a best hand simply minutes prior to the bell.
Daniel Cormier analyzes his loss to Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title, where Cormier declares to have actually suffered problems seeing from an eye poke. (edited).
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Stipe Miocic uses a mix of excellent takedown defense and lands some strikes of his own as he keeps the heavyweight title at UFC 252.
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Joe Rogan and Dominick Cruz go over the historical ramifications of Stipe Miocics success over Daniel Cormier in the heavyweight title battle at UFC 252.
LAS VEGAS– The background for UFC 252s centerpiece heavyweight title battle might not have been more appealing. It was a “best storm” of situations, according to UFC president Dana White.
A series tied at 1-1, featuring Stipe Miocic, the only guy who has actually ever protected the UFCs heavyweight championship three successive times, and Daniel Cormier, the only guy who has ever beaten Miocic in a championship battle.
Cormier knocked out Miocic to take the title in 2018. Miocic returned the favor to win it back in 2019.
Saturday was for all the marbles– not just a UFC belt, but eternal bragging rights for the winner and the distinction of greatest UFC heavyweight of all time. And oh, on top of all that, it would also serve as the last battle of Cormiers career. No one knew how the night would go, only that it would not disappoint.
There was no knockout this time, however Miocic won a fiercely contested fight by consentaneous choice. Here are five critical elements from the most crucial fight in UFC heavyweight history.
Closing the rounds
It took a whole year for the UFC to book Saturdays trilogy battle, and the main factor for the delay was Miocics eyes. He required eye surgery in 2020 after sustaining injuries triggered by eye pokes during his 2019 bout versus Cormier. Miocic told ESPN prior to the battle he intended to bring up the subject of eye pokes to the referee.
It didnt take wish for that story to impact the 3rd battle. Cormier poked Miocic in the left eye throughout the preliminary.
” My bad, bro,” Cormier said right away after the nasty. Miocic ultimately continued.
Late in the third round, Cormier turned away from Miocic in discomfort, and as the bell sounded to finish the round, Cormier shouted in the direction of referee Marc Goddard that he d been poked. Cormier was incensed as he returned to his corner, even triggering Goddard to walk him back and state, “Daniel, you got punched. Take a seat, my pal.”.
However, replays would reveal Miocics left hand was open during among the punches, and his outstretched fingers went into Cormiers left eye. After the fight, Cormier declined to complain about Miocics objectives within that minute, but was still blatantly heated up about the nasty.
” I suggest f–, take a look at my eye,” Cormier said after the bout. “I cant see out of my left eye. Its black. Its black. It is what it is. It doesnt matter.”.
” I felt bad,” Miocic stated. I told him, Sorry, throughout the fight. Honestly, I didnt understand I had actually poked him in the eye until I looked up and saw the replay and said, Oh, I totally poked him in the eye.
Before completion of the night, Cormier would inform ESPN he d been detected with a torn cornea, and Goddard would release a public apology for missing the foul.
The clinch.
Cormier asked his corner in between the 3rd and second rounds. Late in the 3rd round, Cormier turned away from Miocic in pain, and as the bell rang to complete the round, Cormier screamed in the direction of referee Marc Goddard that he d been poked.” Im not interested in fighting for anything but titles, and I dont envision theres going to be a title in the future,” Cormier stated.
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