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Stipe Miocic was in talks to main-event UFC 230, but was never offered rematch with Daniel Cormier

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was in talks to main-event UFC 230 in November, but was never offered a rematch with current titlist Daniel Cormier.
Credit: Jerome Miron, USA Today Sports Images
Former UFC champion Stipe Miocic continues his campaign for a rematch against two-division title-holder Daniel Cormier.

CLEVELAND -- The UFC’s annual early-November Madison Square Garden show in New York City took a long time to get a main event, but matchmakers were able to get a second title bout onto the card in a matter of just three days.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was working on an agreement to main-event the pay-per-view card, but instead, Derrick Lewis was granted a title shot against Daniel Cormier after a surprise knockout victory over Alexander Volkov at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night.

“We were in talks to headline and help save the card, but D.C. was never offered as an opponent and was unavailable,” Jim Walter, Miocic’s manager, said in a text message to WKYC.com. “Stipe would fight D.C. anywhere or anytime. No questions asked. Stipe looks forward to getting his belt back.”

Credit: Sam Wasson/Getty Images

While co-hosting the UFC pre-fight show on Fox Sports 1 Saturday night, Cormier talked about needing more time for his injured right hand to heal before he would commit to a title defense. Also, Cormier was said to be waiting for Brock Lesnar to finish out his USADA suspension and expected a January bout between the two.

Cormier and Lesnar had a memorable showdown in the aftermath of his knockout victory over Miocic at UFC 226 in Las Vegas in July.

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie
WWE/UFC superstar Brock Lesnar enters The Octagon after Daniel Cormier (blue gloves) beat Stipe Miocic (red gloves) during UFC 226 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Despite taking a thumb to the left eye on an attempted shove from Cormier, Miocic felt he was having success in the first round in his fourth defense of the heavyweight championship.

However, out of a clinch, Cormier faked the uppercut, came over the top with a right-handed strike and it floored the defending champion. With Miocic on his back, Cormier pounced and landed multiple strikes before the referee called a stop to the contest.

The loss brought to an end Miocic’s six-fight winning streak.

“Hands down, I’m a way better fighter than he was,” Miocic said in an Instagram post shortly after the Cormier-Lewis bout was announced earlier this week. “Nine out of 10 times, I win that fight. That was his one time.

“It just kills me inside because I am a way better fighter than he is. I know it. Everyone else knows it. I think he knows it, too.”

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9 times out of 10 I beat DC. Everyone knows it. DC knows it. No heavyweight has ever accomplished what I have. #HWGOAT

A post shared by Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) on

Following his knockout win over Volkov, Lewis admitted that he trains only 30 minutes a day until a couple weeks before the fight, when he ramps up to hour-long sessions. Also, in his post-fight interview inside The Octagon, Lewis did not seem ready to step into a title bout.

“I need to sit my (expletive) down and do some more cardio,” Lewis told UFC commentator Joe Rogan. “What the (expletive) are you talking about right now? I ain’t trying to fight for no title right now. I don’t know why guys think like that.”

While Lewis questioned his cardio, Miocic has been working on his craft every day, often posting pictures of himself honing his skills at Strong Style MMA in Independence.

“There are no shortcuts. Training never stops,” Miocic said in a recent post.

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There are no shortcuts. Training never stops.

A post shared by Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) on

The day the Cormier-Lewis fight was announced, Miocic posted a picture of himself sitting on the apron of Strong Style’s boxing ring with the caption: “Hungrier than ever.”

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Hungrier than ever.

A post shared by Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) on

Earlier this year, Miocic set the record for the most consecutive successful defenses of the UFC heavyweight championship when he earned a dominant unanimous-decision victory over Francis Ngannou at UFC 220 in Boston back in January.

Currently, Miocic is 18-3 in his professional MMA career and 12-3 under the UFC banner. The Euclid native and graduate of Eastlake North High School has earned four “Performance of the Night,” three “Fight of the Night” and one “Knockout of the Night” bonus in his 15 UFC bouts.

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