Daniel Cormier may or may not defeat Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 on July 7 to claim the UFC heavyweight championship. It’s a very difficult matchup for “DC,” especially considering he hasn’t competed at heavyweight since lighting up Roy Nelson back in 2013.
If Cormier is able to leave his 205-pound throne behind, defeat Miocic next weekend in Las Vegas, and become only the second fighter in promotional history to simultaneously hold two belts in different weight classes, it will be one of the biggest accomplishments in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA). Remember, light heavyweight and heavyweight are probably the two most unforgiving divisions in the sport.
According to Cormier’s head coach, Javier Mendez, “DC” should be mentioned alongside the greatest fighters of all time if he’s able to defeat Miocic at UFC 226.
“I think [Cormier] is in the GOAT discussion only because the other people that should be there are disqualified — by their doing or not their doing, they got disqualified,” Mendez said during a recent interview with Submission Radio (shown above). “So, to me, it’s a no-brainer as why he would be considered in that category. If you disqualify yourself, you disqualify yourself. Right or wrong, it doesn’t matter, you’re disqualified. So just from that point alone, a hundred percent he’s in the discussion in my opinion.”
Things become a little strange when bringing up Cormier’s name in discussions about the G.O.A.T because he’s lost to Jon Jones twice — albeit one loss was overturned to a no contest after Jones failed a drug test — but he is the only fighter “DC” has ever lost to. And considering Jones’ accomplishments have been tainted like that of Lance Armstrong, maybe his past performances against Cormier mean a little less.
That said, Jones will not be competing at UFC 226. Miocic will be. And the last we saw the Ohio native compete inside of the cage he was rag-dolling Francis Ngannou at UFC 220 en route to setting the all-time UFC heavyweight record for most consecutive title defenses (3).
“[Stipe has] great hands,” Mendez said. “Also, he has good power backing up, going forward — he’s extremely well-rounded, he’s got a good IQ. He’s got everything. And with ‘DC,’ what edges him out a little bit is in the wrestling. (He’s) a little higher wrestler. I think we have more striking opportunities with what we have, but the power factor goes to [Miocic], the height factor goes to him.
“But that’s nothing new to ‘DC.’ When he fought as a heavyweight for the 12 or 13 fights, he never lost a round in any of his heavyweight fights. The rounds that DC’s ever lost were in the light heavyweight division, but never in the heavyweight. Honestly speaking, I’m expecting that to happen again where he just dominates the heavyweights.”
If Cormier is able to maintain his undefeated heavyweight record and hand Miocic his first loss since 2014 things may get very interesting. Top light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson is currently waiting with open arms for a rematch with Cormier, former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar is nearing a potential return to UFC, and Jones could decide to move up in weight and challenge “DC” in a trilogy fight if he’s cleared to return to competition.
We’re going to find out one way or another if Cormier is destined for UFC history when he collides with Miocic next week on the biggest fight card of the year.
What say you, Maniacs? Where does a win over Miocic land Cormier on the all-time list?
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