“I don’t see why he couldn’t fight at heavyweight.”@danawhite asked @dc_mma if he’d be interested in a title shot with @StipeMiocicUFC. Can we get this, please? #UFC220 https://t.co/FljOglKMIB
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 21, 2018
With his gutsy win over Francis Ngannou at UFC 220, Stipe Miocic is out of heavyweight contenders. Sure, there’s Fabricio Werdum, the former champ he knocked out in the first round to take the belt, but since dropping the strap, the Brazilian hasn’t notched a big win that would grant him a rematch. Daniel Cormier is in a similar situation. With Jon Jones out of the picture, his light heavyweight title defense at UFC 220 leaves his division in need of some shaking out. So, what’s a Dana White to do other than schedule a superfight between the two champs?
Speaking to Megan Olivi after the show, the UFC president put the pieces together: Cormier is undefeated at heavyweight, and only dropped to 205 because his buddy Cain Velasquez was in the title picture when DC jumped over from Strikeforce. Stipe needs an opponent, and there’s really no one out there that’s interesting. It makes a ton of sense, and seems like it could happen:
“He (Daniel) looked phenomenal. He pressed the pace, he was getting in his face and hitting him with big shots early on. He literally just took the fight away from Volkan. He looked incredible. He is one of the greatest to ever do it. I was just talking to him and I don’t see why he couldn’t fight at heavyweight you know? And if he (DC) thinks that Cain (Velasquez) might come back, well then if he won the belt he could give it up. But either way it is a good fight (Miocic vs. Cormier). With all the defenses he (Cormier) has, and Stipe just broke the record for most (heavyweight) defenses. It’s a fun fight. I think that is the fight that people want to see.”
At one point, this was supposed to be Jon Jones moving up to heavyweight to take on the best in a heavier weight class. Even though Cormier has lost twice to Jones (okay once and a no-contest but you know what I mean), it looks like he’s getting the opportunities Jones is missing out on after another failed drug test derailed one of the best careers in combat sports history.
(Via BJ Penn)
