UFC 252: Daniel Cormier vs Stipe Miocic III
- Cormier takes on Miocic in their trilogy bout
- Cormier beat the champion in their first fight with brilliant first round TKO
- Miocic earned his retribution in their second clash
- The winner of the third clash will cement their legacy as the best heavyweight in UFC history
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Cormier takes on Stipe Miocic in a battle to crown the greatest heavyweight in UFC history.
At UFC 252, Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic go toe-to-toe for the third time, for the title and for the tag of greatest heavyweight in MMA history.
Even without the fans around the octagon to cheer them on, each man will know that the outcome of this deciding match-up will be glued permanently to their name.
Cormier suffered a decision defeat in their first encounter and then a KO loss in the second, although it was overturned when Jones tested positive for a steroid metabolite, turinabol.
In July 2018, he stepped up to test himself against the very best of the division above and in doing so redefine himself as a two-division champion.
Stipe Miocic had emphatically defended his crown three times in succession having shocked the world by knocking out Fabricio Werdum in the former champion’s own back yard of Curitiba Brazil.
The bookies were equally dumfounded when Cormier defied his underdog status, connecting with a vicious short right hand on Miocic’s chin in the opening round of their first fight.
Cormier could have walked away as a two-weight champion, heavyweight king and perhaps he wishes he had.
But he pushed on and gave Miocic the chance to exact revenge. Their rematch at UFC 241 was a classic last August and in the latter rounds, Cormier began to tire.
Miocic had worked the body with a number of punishing blows and razor sharp uppercut to the midriff opened Cormier up for a flush right hand to his compatriot’s chin.
The former champion sensed blood and went in for the kill, forcing the referee to step in.
Now the scores are level at one apiece, the significance of Saturday night’s encounter is incomparable in UFC heavyweight history.
