CLEVELAND -- There was no “bad blood” between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier in the build-up to their UFC heavyweight championship bout in the main event of UFC 226 at T-Mobile Arena last Saturday night, and the good will extended well beyond the fight.
Less than 48 hours after Miocic suffered just the second stoppage loss of his career, he tweeted congratulations to the new titleholder, and Cormier, the second-ever simultaneous two-division champion, responded with a message of gratitude.
“My brother, it was an honor to share the cage with you,” Cormier said in the beginning of the tweet
Cormier defeated Miocic with a first-round knockout, the first time the Cleveland native and Eastlake North High School graduate has been finished in a fight since a technical knockout loss to Stefan Struve in September of 2012.
“Congrats to DC,” Miocic tweeted Monday. “Didn’t get the chance to say it in the cage, but let’s dance again and get a rematch before you call it a career.”
Late in the first round of their super-fight main event, Miocic and Cormier got tied up during an exchange.
Out of the clinch, Cormier faked the uppercut, came over the top with a right-handed strike and floored the defending champion. With Miocic on his back, Cormier pounced and landed multiple strikes before the referee called a stop to the contest.
After a string of dominant performances on his way up the rankings, Miocic won the UFC heavyweight championship with a first-round knockout of Fabricio Werdum in front of 45,000 Brazilian fans cheering on their fellow countryman in the main event of UFC 198 at the Arena Atletico Paranaense in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 14, 2016.
Miocic went on to defend the UFC heavyweight championship with first-round knockouts of Alistair Overeem (September 10, 2016 in Cleveland) and Junior dos Santos (May 13, 2017 in Dallas), as well as a dominant unanimous-decision victory over power-punching challenger Francis Ngannou (January 20, 2018 in Boston).
The record-holder for the most consecutive successful defenses of the UFC heavyweight championship, Miocic is 18-3-0 in his professional career, including a 12-3 mark under the UFC banner. Prior to Saturday’s loss, Miocic was on a six-fight winning streak.
In addition to extending his congratulations and calling for a second bout against Cormier ahead of the 39-year old dual champion’s retirement next spring, Miocic let it be known that he is far from done inside The Octagon.
“Being the greatest heavyweight in UFC history is a career-long journey and doesn’t end here,” Miocic said. “I’m more motivated than ever!”
Although Cormier did not address the request for a second bout between the two, as he already committed to fighting a returning Brock Lesnar, he did go on to say that Miocic will be back at the top of his game sooner rather than later.
Additionally, Cormier wished Miocic good luck on his next endeavor, fatherhood. Miocic and his wife, Ryan, are due to welcome a baby girl into the world on August 1.
“I know you’ll be back better than ever, champ,” Cormier said. “Head up and good luck with baby #father #husband #hero #champ #cle.”
