For Daniel Cormier, size never matters. And he proved that once again last night when he took out Stipe Miocic to become the new UFC heavyweight champion. The pressure was on for the first few minutes, as the taller Miocic seemed to have his way early on when the two locked up against the fence.
However, when Cormier (21-1) got free, he impressed with his power as a perfectly placed short right hook knocked out Miocic (18-3), making him the second simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history.
The win was made official at the 4:33 mark of the opening stanza when, after dropping Miocic, Cormier stood overhead and landed the definitive collection of punches that solidified him as the winner.
UFC on Twitter
DANIEL CORMIER IS THE NEW HW CHAMPION! #UFC226 https://t.co/zXBkQm2IVQ
I uh, I was a heavyweight for a long time, and I left the division, said Cormier. I never knew what I could become, but tonight I got the answer: Im a two-division champion, baby!
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Cormier now joins Conor McGregor as the only other fighter to hold belts simultaneously in two divisions, and he wasted no time in calling out former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who was cage-side. The WWE heavyweight champ then entered the Octagon and immediately shoved Cormier in true pro-wrestling heel mode.
Lesnar ended a five-year retirement from MMA to fight Mark Hunt in 2016, but he retired again last year after being suspended for testing positive for a banned substance.
Cormier has said he plans to retire on his 40th birthday – March 20 next year – and a sensational return for Lesnar would represent a significant late payoff before he closes the curtain on his career, provided the fight can be scheduled in time.
Lesnar will need to serve the remaining six months of his suspension when he re-enters the testing pool.
Cormier has solidified his claim to being the GOAT of MMA as both a Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion, UFC light heavyweight world champion and now the UFC heavyweight world champion.
With the horrors of his Jon Jones fights behind him, Cormier is truly among the best that ever did it in the UFC.
