Daniel Cormier Says Stipe Miocic Will Determine When Rubber Match Happens
Cormier says that he is ready for the third encounter with Miocic, but it is the champion who will determine when that happens.
“It’s tricky,” Cormier said to MMA Junkie. “I would like it to happen sooner than later, that’s all I would like to say. I feel like the more time I get away from last year’s back surgery, the better I feel, and I’m starting to really feel like myself now. The further I get away from this surgery, the better I’ll be. They told me when I did it, after about a year is when it would really start to feel everything was back in order and I’m starting to feel that now. I’m ready to go, but he’s the champ. He’s the champ, he makes the rules. So I’m on standby and I’m waiting to see when this guy says that we’re going to fight. When he does, I’ll be prepared. I’ll be ready – even more prepared than the last time because I feel I can prepare better from the very start right now.”
It was Cormier who won the first encounter at UFC 226, while Miocic won the second bout between the two at UFC 241.
The former heavyweight champion also says he is working with George Foreman to help improve with the boxing skill set.
“I had that Derrick Lewis stop in between, but I didn’t even get to train for that,” Cormier said. “I fought on three weeks’ (notice), so we’re pretty much in the same situation. I think what’s great for me is in five rounds of fighting I’ve won the vast majority of those rounds. That’s what feels good for me in my preparation. There are some things I need to change. Obviously he did a great job of adjusting and punching me in the body last time, and that’s what ultimately won him the fight. But I’ve already started to take the steps to try to improve that. I’m working with George Foreman now, and he showed me some tips to help with the boxing. The reality is it’s all boxing. Stipe isn’t kicking me very much, he’s punching and punching and I’m punching and wrestling. I’ve started to work on some things to try to shore up that issue that caused me so many problems last time.”
There is no word yet on when that third fight will go down, but Cormier did say in his interview that June seems like a potential landing date.
