CLEVELAND — The matchmakers with the Ultimate Fighting Championship have plans for heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic when he is ready to make his return to mixed martial arts competition, but the record-setting fighter may not like what they have in mind.
UFC president Dana White spoke with ESPN Friday and let it be known that there was only one option for Miocic, and it is not a new challenge like a super-fight with light heavyweight titlist Jon “Bones” Jones or boxing match with lineal champ Tyson Fury.
“It’s very clear,” White said. “(Stipe) is hurt. When he’s not, we’ll make the fight. You saw Cormier basically come out and say, ‘Stipe has the ability to retire me. If he doesn’t take this fight, I’m going to retire.’ We’ll see how this thing plays out.”
Cormier wants a rematch with Miocic and has taken to calling him out in a very public forum to get it.
After providing commentary on a UFC Fight Night card last Saturday night headlined by a heavyweight bout between Curtis Blaydes and Junior dos Santos, Cormier called out Miocic and implored him to complete the trilogy series for the title.
“Stipe and I are going to fight next,” Cormier said. “That’s exactly what’s supposed to happen. It’s what’s going to happen. I know they’re saying they want something new. Well hell, I wanted something new after I beat him, and I gave him a rematch, so it’s only right to do the right thing.
“You’re honorable, right Stipe? You’re a fireman. You save lives. You do the right thing all the time, right? Do the right thing and give me my rematch.”
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Those post-fight comments echoed what Cormier said during the fight when he mistakenly called Blaydes, “Stipe.”
For much of the final quarter of 2018 and early months of 2019, Miocic looked like he might not get a desired rematch with Cormier for the UFC heavyweight championship, but when other plans fell through, that is exactly what he got.
After struggling to find his range in the first three rounds, Miocic picked his spots during the fourth frame, engaging with punches, including several left hooks to Cormier’s ribs, and getting out of the pocket before the defending champion could respond.
Then, after a lead left hook to the body late in the fourth round, Miocic landed a straight right hand to Cormier’s chin. That wobbled Cormier and Miocic moved in for the finish. Miocic landed three right hands before connecting on three short lefts while putting Cormier against the cage.
As Cormier slumped to the canvas, Miocic alternated right and left-handed punches and forced the referee’s stoppage with 52 seconds remaining in the fourth round.
Despite winning the fight, Miocic suffered a torn retina on an eye poke that went undetected by the official. Since winning back the UFC title, Miocic has been recovering from surgery to repair the damage suffered in the fight.
“It’s healed up,” Miocic said at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards last month. “I’m taking my time with it because I’m 37, so I don’t want to injure it again. I want to be able to see out of both eyes when I get older, so that’s all I really care about right now. I love fighting, but my health’s more important.”