Daniel Cormier, said, its such a big opportunity, I just couldn’t pass up a chance to become a two-division UFC champion.
UFC announced on Friday a super fight bout for UFC 226 during International Fight Week on July 7, which will headline by UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will defend his title against UFC Light Heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier.
Before his UFC 220 title defense against Volkan Oezdemir, which resulted in a second-round TKO to retain his light heavyweight championship, the champ wasn’t interested in the idea of moving up to heavyweight class, where he started his career. Dana White likes the idea of moving him up a division to challenge Stipe Miocic.
UFC president Dana White brought up the biggest obstacle in making that fight, which is Cormier’s close relationship with his teammate and former champion Cain Velasquez, who is currently working his way towards a return to the UFC Octagon later this year.
Daniel Cormier’s move down to 205 pounds was in large part thanks to Cain Velasquez already being in the heavyweight division where he’s a two-time champion.
Perhaps the only legitimate heavyweight Stipe Miocic hasn’t faced in his career is a former champion, Cain Velasquez. Cormier and Velasquez are a very close teammate. If Miocic beats Cormier, the groundwork for a very interesting battle between Miocic and Velasquez would be laid.
But after having a long talk with his teammate, Cormier finally agreed to the Stipe Miocic fight. The two great champs will meet at UFC 226 in Las Vegas on July 7. (transcript via BloodyElbow)
“I’m excited,” Cormier told TMZ Sports. “It’s a big deal. Great opportunity to fight the greatest heavyweight champion of all time and try to cement myself as one of the best fighters to ever do it.
“I just want to fight. Plus, it’s such a big opportunity. It’s one of those that you can’t really pass up whenever it’s offered to you. Once I talked to Cain Velasquez and he gave me the go-ahead and well wishes, I was like, ‘You know what? I have to do it.’
“I’ve never been afraid of a fight. That’s one thing: I’ve never been afraid of a fight. It was always about whether or not it worked in terms of what I was trying to do and what my teammate had going. Cain said to me he doesn’t think that he would get a title shot right away — ‘So let’s get you prepared to try to be the heavyweight champ of the world.’”
Moreover, Daniel Cormier hinted payday isn’t that bad either.
“[White] is a pretty persistent guy, and when he wants something done, he has ways of getting them done,” Cormier said. “And let’s just say I enjoy his ways.”
Who do you think will win this super fight?
