Ever since Stipe Miocic recaptured the UFC Heavyweight Championship from Daniel Cormier last August, a third fight between the living MMA legends seemed like a foregone conclusion.
But nine months after Miocic's knockout victory at UFC 241, a date for such fight has yet to be set. And its status only became cloudier over the weekend, when UFC president Dana White reiterated that the Euclid native could be stripped of his championship should be he fail to defend it in a timely fashion.
“This whole crew [fighting at UFC 249] trained, we have two more groups of fighters coming in this week that trained and got ready,” White told reporters at UFC 249 in Jacksonville over the weekend, per MMA Junkie. "The division has to move on for all the other people. We want to do that trilogy fight then you got the winner of Francis [Ngannou] and [Jairzinho] Rozenstruik waiting in the wings, too. People are waiting. It’s the right thing to do.”
White's comments came days after Miocic took to Twitter to state that while he still plans to face Cormier, he is currently working as a first responder as he waits to receive clearance to begin training at his gym in Independence, Ohio amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
"I want to fight DC. It’s going to happen period," Miocic said. "I'm going to give my fans what they want to see. My management has been working on dates with UFC. Right now I’m doing what Governor [Mike] DeWine is advising and am working as a first responder. I can’t control a global pandemic.
"My head coach can’t open his gym by law right now. I don’t hold myself higher than any other person in regards to what I’m allowed to do. Ohio is under orders until May 29th. The second the gym can open, we begin camp. Plain and simple. I have never ducked anyone."
Pressure for Miocic to return to the octagon only mounted after UFC 249 on Saturday, when Francis Ngannou knocked out Jairzinho Rozenstruik in 20 seconds -- his fourth first-round knockout victory in as many fights. With that, another worthy contender to the UFC Heavyweight title has emerged, giving White a viable option for a title fight between Cormier and Ngannou should he opt to strip Micocic of his championship.
“I would love to do my trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic,” Cormier said after UFC 249, according to MMAFighting.com. “But if Stipe won’t fight, they’re going to take his belt just like Henry [Cejudo] just gave up his and they’re going to make a fight between Francis and I for the belt. It’s simple as that. You’ve got to fight as the champ."
Addressing Cormier's baiting yet again, Miocic reiterates that it is his plan to fight him.
"My team is working on securing a training location and dates w UFC," a tweet read Monday. " I have five belts at home. I don’t need to sit on anything," said Miocic.