Daniel Cormier is trying to go out like the Michael Jordans and Peyton Mannings of the sports world at UFC 252.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] believes he has the opportunity to do something Saturday at UFC 252 that will resonate beyond MMA in the sports history books.
When Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) challenges Stipe Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) for the heavyweight championship in the pay-per-view headliner at UFC Apex, he will enter the octagon for the final time. DC has won titles in two UFC weight classes, set records across multiple divisions and competed in some of the most high-profile fights in MMA history during his famed career.
At UFC 252, though, he looks to tie it all together with a final epic moment. He said he’s retiring – no ifs, ands or buts – and doing so with the UFC belt around his waist, at age 41, after beating his biggest rival in a rubber match, would hit the sweet spot.
Cormier said riding off into the sunset under these conditions would set a new bar for MMA retirements while putting him in the conversation with some of the most memorable exits in all of sports – in the same breath as Michael Jordan and Peyton Manning.
“In mixed martial arts, yes – but then it can put you right alongside the greatest sports athletes of all time,” Cormier told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Thursday at the UFC 252 pre-fight news conference. “Michael Jordan won with the Bulls when they beat the Jazz. Unfortunately he came back; I won’t come back. Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl in his last season. It would put me in that type of sphere with the greatest athletes that have ever competed across any sport. So, when I win on Saturday, I will retire in that way.”
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Cormier is extremely confident in getting the victory, but he’s lost to Miocic once before and, despite claims of making the necessary adjustments to find the win, understands nothing is guaranteed. If things don’t go Cormier’s way, though, he feels equipped to live his life peaceful and move on, as he did his rivalry with Jon Jones.
“I’m a guy with a big ego, and that would suck,” Cormier said. “I’ve got to be honest. To think there would be two guys in my career that were just better than me, and I had multiple chances to beat them, and I didn’t get it done … Yeah, it would suck.”
One thing that won’t happen, though, is Cormier pushing his retirement back (again) regardless of the outcome. He’s positioned himself for a fairy tale moment, and he’s pushing his chips all in one last time.
“Most guys in my position, when they’re talking about being done, they’re on the prelims somewhere, or there for some young guy to beat and elevate themselves off their name,” Cormier said. “That’s not me. I’m fighting to be the best in the world. So Saturday when I win, I’m the best in the world, but you’ve got to be comfortable walking away as the best in the world, or eventually you’re going to end up on the prelims for somebody to beat you and build off your name. It’s just the way the game works.”
UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] has no problem stepping aside while [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] takes the spotlight going into Saturday’s heavyweight title trilogy at UFC 252.
Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is not the most outspoken of fighters as it is. In this instance, he’s more than happy to let Cormier gobble up all the media attention ahead of his exit from the sport.
“All good,” Miocic told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Thursday’s UFC 252 pre-fight news conference. “He can take it all, man. It’s all good. I don’t mind it. Listen, good for him. I’m just going to hang out in the back.”
As Cormier takes the brunt of the headlines, Miocic said his focus is on the task at hand. He’s spent the last three years with Cormier as his lone opponent and will become the first fighter in UFC history to face the same foe in three consecutive bouts. Miocic said he’s looking forward to putting this chapter of his career behind him.
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“Thank God we’re done with this,” Miocic said. “It’s been great. We’re done. Rubber match, everyone wants a trilogy, but when it’s all said and done, it’s going to be over. … I think it’s always personal whenever you fight, because (your opponent is) trying to do something. They’re trying to beat you. They’re trying to take something away from you.
“I’ve got no ill will towards the ma, and he’s going to have a good retirement. God bless him, and I wish nothing but the best for him.”
Cormier’s retirement has been the dominant story line leading up to UFC 252, but within that topic questions have festered about Miocic’s fighting future. He turns 38 next week and has been in a number of grueling fights in his own right.
Miocic fully intends on retaining his belt at UFC 252, then defending the belt more after.
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He said he doesn’t currently share Cormier’s plan of walking away on top after this event and will attempt to continue to build on the UFC Hall of Fame-worthy resume he’s already compiled.
“I think about retirement every fight since my debut at UFC 136,” Miocic said. “I love what I do. The minute I’m not having fun, and it acts like I job, I’m out. I had a great camp, to the best of my abilities while being quarantined while there’s a pandemic going on. But honestly, I feel great. We’ll see how long I can go. I don’t know about 40. God bless DC, I don’t know about that. But a little while longer.”
UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
Big-fight vibes were in the air for the first faceoff between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier ahead of their trilogy.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] are chomping at the bit to settle their trilogy, as was evident during Thursday’s UFC 252 news conference.
The UFC’s first formal pre-fight news conference in months went down ahead of Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and spotlighted champ Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and challenger Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC), who meet for the heavyweight title in the UFC 252 headliner.
Both men hold a knockout victory over the other, and the winner of the rubber match will not only leave with bragging rights and the title, but according to UFC president Dana White, also the distinction of being the greatest heavyweight in MMA history.
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There are big-fight vibes in the air, and the tension as Miocic and Cormier squared off for the first time ahead of fight night was palpable.
Watch the Miocic vs. Cormier faceoff video from the UFC 252 pre-fight news conference above.
When it comes to fighting, former UFC dual champion [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] is unquestionably one of the all-time greatest to ever do it, but it’s how he’s carried himself throughout his career that makes him special.
What can you say about DC other than … he’s just a good guy.
That’s as cliche as it gets, but it’s true. It’s why Max Holloway calls Cormier “the daddest man on the planet.” He’s a father who, by all accounts, is a good man who just so happens to be great at fighting.
If you know somebody (other than Jon Jones) who actually hates DC? I’d love to hear it.
As UFC 252 and his heavyweight title trilogy with Stipe Miocic draws near, there’s a lot of reflection on Cormier and how, at 41, he’s reached this point. One of the best anecdotes of this week came courtesy of The Athletic’s Shaheen Al-Shatti, who got this gem from former Olympic gold medal wrestler Cael Sanderson, which highlights the kind of person DC is:
“For him to put himself in a position where so many people have access to him, that says a lot about him, right? I remember before the 2004 Olympic Games, we were directly behind the basketball team. The (U.S.) men’s basketball team. And because of the security at the time, it took several hours to get through security. We’re waiting. And we were right behind them. And I remember Cormier, he went up and asked (an ultra-famous NBA player) for the his autograph. And (the ultra-famous NBA player) wouldn’t even acknowledge him. Wouldn’t look at him.
“I just remember that image of Cormier. He asked this guy to sign something for him – and the guy wouldn’t even acknowledge him.
“I just thought it was really disrespectful. But I just think it shows you what kind of a person Daniel is. Now Daniel is a guy that everyone in the gym wants his autograph – and he’s still walking around freely. When he’s talking to somebody, he’s looking them in the eye. He’s showing them the respect. Even though that’s got to be exhausting for him and just a huge energy drain. Because, yeah, it’s one thing to go in there and wrestle and coach kids. That’s not the challenging and impressive part. It’s the putting up with that celebrity that he has to deal with that.”
Cormier never has forgotten this moment, and it seems to have played a role in how he would eventually deal with being famous. Cormier was asked about this memory during an interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronstetter and gave an answer that sums up the class with which DC has always carried himself.
“It was bad, right? It was a letdown,” Cormier said of the autograph snub by the NBA star, whom he refused to name. “I tried to make sure that, regardless of how I’m feeling, I try to give people a little piece of me, make their experience to meeting me a pleasant one. Because you don’t know what that does for a person, and you don’t know who that person is going to eventually turn out to be.
“What if you meet the kid that’s gonna become the President some day? You don’t know. What if you meet a kid that’s just having a bad day or an adult that’s having a really bad day, and you’re interaction can uplift them? You just never know what people are going through. So I just try to make sure that when people come in contact with me, the experience is pleasant.”
I wonder if that ultra-famous NBA player remembers the time he snubbed a future UFC champ-champ and what he thinks of it now.
UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252, and the “Embedded” series is back to help build the excitement ahead of the action.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252, and the promotion’s popular “Embedded” series is back to help build the excitement ahead of the action.
UFC 252 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.
In the main event, a highly anticipated trilogy takes place. Heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] will defend his title against former heavyweight and light heavyweight champ [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] to settle their 1-1 tie. And in the co-headliner, rising prospect [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] in a key bantamweight showdown.
The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows the fighters as fight night draws near. Below is the UFC’s description:
Daniel Cormier runs on an anti-gravity treadmill, practices his golf swing, and exchanges compliments with Sean O’Malley on a live chat. Heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic uses a hotel room for training, dining and physical therapy.
The best facts and figures about UFC 252, which features a Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight title trilogy in the main event.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252. The five-fight lineup follows prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ and goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
A pivotal moment in the sport’s history will unfold in the main event as UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and former two-division titleholder [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) will clash for the third and final time. The winner not only will have the belt and bragging rights for winning the trilogy, but they’ll also carry the distinction of greatest heavyweight in UFC history, according to UFC president Dana White.
Miocic and Cormier both bring extraordinary and decorated resumes to the octagon. For more on the numbers behind their fight, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC 252.
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Main event
Stipe Miocic
Miocic becomes the first in history to face the same opponent in three consecutive UFC fights.
Miocic is one of four heavyweight champions in UFC history to have multiple reigns.
Miocic’s five UFC heavyweight title fight victories are tied with Tim Sylvia for second most in divisional history behind Randy Couture (six).
Miocic’s three consecutive UFC heavyweight title defense during his first reign were the most of any champion in divisional history.
Miocic’s 13 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fifth most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (18), Frank Mir (16), Junior Dos Santos (15) and Derrick Lewis (15).
Miocic’s nine knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Lewis (11), Dos Santos (10) and Cain Velasquez (10).
Miocic’s stoppage victory at UFC 241 despite a -58 significant strike deficit is the second largest comeback in a UFC title fight behind Anderson Silva’s win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 (-60).
Miocic and Cormier combined for 304 significant strikes landed at UFC 241, the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight fight.
Miocic’s nine fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are the most in divisional history.
Daniel Cormier
Cormier is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of seven two-division champions in UFC history. McGregor, Nunes, Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of three fighters in UFC history to record successful title defenses in two weight classes. Cejudo an Nunes also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of five fighters in UFC history to win a belt while coming off a loss. He accomplished the feat against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187.
Cormier is one of two fighters in UFC history to win two title fights following a loss or no-contest. Couture also accomplished the feat.
Cormier competes in the 17th heavyweight bout of his career. He’s 15-1 overall in the weight class.
Cormier lands 62.9 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Alistair Overeem (74 percent) and Anthony Hamilton (65.6 percent).
Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson combined for 260 significant strikes at UFC 192, a single-fight record for a UFC light-heavyweight bout.
Cormier’s 140 significant strikes landed against Gustafsson are second most in a UFC light-heavyweight bout behind Cyrille Diabate’s 146 at UFC on VERSUS 3.
Cormier is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from the crucifix position. He accomplished the feat at UFC 220.
Cormier is 9-0 in his career when he lands at least two takedowns in a fight.
Cormier has spent just 12 seconds in bottom position in UFC heavyweight competition, the least in divisional history for anyone with at least five fights.
Co-main event
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]’s (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (seven) Aljamain Sterling (five) and Marlon Vera (five).
Marlon Vera’s (15-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied with Sterling for the second longest active streak in the division behind Yan (seven).
Vera has earned eight of his nine UFC victories by stoppage.
Vera’s seven stoppage victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Urijah Faber for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).
Vera’s four submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).
Featured bout
Junior Dos Santos
[autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
Dos Santos’ total fight time of 3:50:40 in UFC heavyweight competition is second most in company history behind Arlovski (4:48:42).
Dos Santos’ 15 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Arlovski (17) and Mir (16).
Dos Santos’ 10 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Lewis (11).
Dos Santos’ 14 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos has landed 1,075 significant strikes in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos and Ben Rothwell combined for 234 significant strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 86, the third most in a single UFC heavyweight fight behind Miocic vs. Cormier (304) at UFC 241 and Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura (282) at UFC Fight Night 121.
Dos Santos’ 157 significant strikes landed against Rothwell are second most in a UFC heavyweight fight behind Cormier (181) at UFC 241.
Dos Santos’ 92 significant body strikes landed against Rothwell are the UFC heavyweight record for a single fight.
Dos Santos defends 81.8 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Tybura (82.1 percent).
[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.
Rozenstruik’s nine-second knockout at UFC on ESPN+ 12 is the second fastest in UFC heavyweight history behind Todd Duffee’s seven-second finish at UFC 102.
Rozenstruik’s knockout of Alistair Overeem at the 4:56 mark of Round 5 at UFC on ESPN 7 marked the third latest stoppage in UFC history behind Demetrious Johnson’s win (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC 186 and Yair Rodriguez’s victory (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 139.
Remaining main card
[autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] (26-13 MMA, 3-4 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since March 2014. He went 8-2 with two no contests between stints with the promotion.
Pineda has earned all 26 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 18 of those wins by submission.
[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 4-4 since he returned to the UFC bantamweight division in April 2016. He’s 5-4 in the weight class overall.
Dodson has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Dodson has fought to three split decision results in UFC bantamweight competition, tied for second most in divisional history behind Kyung Ho Kang (four).
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned eight of his 11 career victories by decision. That includes all four of his UFC wins.
Dvalishvili’s 39 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Dvalishvili is one of two fighters in history to land 10 or more takedowns in three separate UFC bouts. Demetrious Johnson also accomplished the feat.
Dvalishvili outlanded Terrion Ware by 183 total strikes at UFC Fight Night 136, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
Preliminary card
Jim Miller
[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] (32-14 MMA, 21-13 UFC) competes in his 36th UFC bout, the most appearances in company history. His 34th lightweight appearance is also a divisional record.
Miller’s total fight time of 5:21:47 in UFC lightweight competition is most in divisional history.
Miller’s 21 victories in UFC competition are third most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (23) and Demian Maia (22).
Miller’s 19 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Miller’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (13).
Miller’s 10 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Royce Gracie for third most in history behind Charles Oliveira (14) and Maia (11).
Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Miller’s 43 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Miller’s 11 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are tied with Nate Diaz for third most in divisional history behind Cerrone (15) and Lauzon (15).
[autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is 3-1 since he returned from a career-long layoff that lasted from May 2014 to June 2017.
Pichel lands 60.6 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the second-highest rate among active fighters in the division behind Islam Makhachev (68 percent).
[autotag]Felice Herrig[/autotag] (14-8 MMA, 5-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Oct. 6, 2018. The 679-day layoff (nearly two years) is the longest of her more than 11-year career.
[autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) was awarded the first 30-24 scorecard in a women’s UFC fight at UFC on ESPN+ 12.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
