Stipe Miocic is already eyeing his return to the octagon.
And when he does, he wants his rematch.
Nearly a week after losing the UFC Heavyweight Championship to Daniel Cormier at UFC 226 in Las Vegas, Miocic spoke to ESPN about the defeat -- and what occurred afterward. In doing so, the Cleveland native made it clear he wants a shot at the title he defended a record three times.
"I want a title shot. I deserve it," Miocic told ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "I cleaned out the division. I defended it more than anyone, and you're gonna tell me I don't deserve a chance to get it back? Get out of here. Kiss my a-- if you don't think I deserve that."
The problem for Miocic is that Cormier's first challenger already appears to have been handpicked. Moments after his first-round victory by way of knockout, Cormier called out former UFC Heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar, who happened to watch the match cageside.
Upon entering the octagon, Lesnar cut a WWE-style promo, shoving Cormier before seemingly accepting his challenge as only a sports entertainer could.
“Let me tell you something! I walked into this building and watched the heavyweight disasters from the beginning," Lesnar said. "[Francis] Ngannou’s a piece of s--t. Miocic is a piece of s--t. D.C., I’m coming for you."
Speaking to ESPN, Miocic, who fights out of Independence, Ohio, took issue with Lesnar's comments.
"It was a s--- show and it was disrespectful," Miocic said. "I didn't think that was what the UFC was all about."
For what it's worth, the 41-year-old Lesnar doesn't have an official win on his UFC resume since 2010. His victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in 2016 has since been vacated due to a failed drug test and he will not be eligible to fight again until 2019 as a result.
Nevertheless, Lesnar is now first in line for UFC's most coveted title, much to the chagrin of Miocic. The 35-year-old insisted he planned on asking for his rematch immediately, but was unable to due to the post-match circus.
"When Brock came in, I said, 'I'm out of here, I don't need this circus,'" he said. "How can you give a guy a title shot who hasn't fought in over two years, is suspended, and his last fight is a no-contest because he was taking PEDs?"
Whether or not Miocic would be willing to wait to fight the winner of a Cormier-Lesnar match that appears likely for January 2019 is unclear. Given his status as one of the -- if not the -- greatest heavyweight in UFC history, Miocic should find himself with no shortage of challengers, as he's already been called out by former foe Junior dos Santo, who beat Blagoy Ivanov at UFC Fight Night over the weekend.
But for now, Miocic has his eyes not on any one opponent, but rather the title he used to hold. Asked if he'd accept another opponent before a championship rematch, he simply stated, "No."
