Full Coverage: UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier Post-Fight Press Conference
Thanks for joining Fightful for our live coverage of the UFC 226 post-fight press conference. Dana White, Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic, and sat at the podium and gave their thoughts on how the night unfolded. For those of you who may have missed any of the action, you can read Fightful’s full coverage of the event. Newest updates appear at the bottom.
Hello friends. The post-fight press conference should be starting shortly. So, Brock Lesnar?
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Mike Perry up first. “I said it wasnt gonna be easy. I got my first decision victory. I see my career moving forward in a positive direction. Shows room for growth.”
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Perry said he’s hoping for FOTN. “Main events” – Perry on what he sees in the future. Says he could have gone 10 more minutes. Thought things were coming together in the third.
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Perry says he had fun all week. “This is the best and hardest job in the world. May as well enjoy it.” Said he was trying to have fun in the cage as well.
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Perry says he doesn’t feel that bad despite going through a war. Just needs to jump in an ice bath first.
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Perry puts over his new camp. Says working with different styles and Frank ‘The Tank’ on his kickboxing was a big help. Says former camp had too many grapplers.
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And that does it for Perry.
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Derrick Lewis up now. Surprised he’s getting a chance. Says it was a terrible performance. “I don’t deserve a title shot. It hurt me more than helped me. It set me two fights back.”
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Lewis says his back was starting to tighten. Say he wanted to counter Francis. “Really, the game plan was to take him down”
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Lewis says he shouldn’t call anyone out after this fight. Says he should have pushed the fight and blames himself because he called out Francis. “I wanted to go but my body wouldn’t let me.”
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“My wife wants me to take care of my back. The doctors told me I need to lose at least 25 pounds and stretch more to help my back.” – Lewis
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Lewis said if he had a post-fight interview he would have apologized. Also would have called out anyone who bet against him because he was the underdog.
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“I wanted to knock him out. Anything besides a knock out is disappointing.” Says he didn’t talk to Francis after the fight. “He doesnt understand English anyways. Would have been a waste of time.”
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That’s a wrap for Lewis.
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Dana up now
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Perry/Felder don’t get FOTN. Four Performance Bonuses instead. That SUCKS for those two.
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Dana putting over DC. “This gets him the respect he deserves. Now he has a big fight and big payday ahead of him.”
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Dana says Lesnar texted him this week and says he would show up. Lesnar picked Stipe because he thought Cormier was too heavy.
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Dana unsure of when Cormier/Lesnar will happen. Says the USADA process has started, but isn’t sure where they are in the process.
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Dana has no update on Holloway. Says Cormier hurt his leg when he tripped. Also says Cormier threw his back out during camp. “That could be why he put the weight on.”
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Dana says this may have been the most epic card they’ve ever done had the co-main event stayed on the card. Very happy with how things turned out, heavyweight fight between Lewis/Francis aside.
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Dana says Cormier/Brock has known each other a long time. Told Brock to calm down after the shove. Says everyone was fired up and crazy. “This is about to turn into a shit show that the commission is not going to like.”
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Dana puts over Costa. Thinks he can headline a Brazil card with him. Also praises Hall for how he fought.
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Dana praises the main event and credits both guys for getting after it.
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Dana says he no longer thinks like, “I need this guy or that guy to win” Doesn’t do that anymore. “However it plays out is how it’s meant to play out.”
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Dana back to praising Cormier. Not only his skill inside the cage, but also what he does outside the cage. “I love Cormier. I can’t say enough good things about him.”
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Dana believes Francis’ ego got the better of him. “The minute that happens to you in the fight game, everything falls apart. This guys ego was so out of control.”
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Dana doesn’t agree that Lewis’ stock has dropped. Says Lewis’ back will always give him trouble.
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Dana sort of praises Assuncao. Won’t commit to giving him a title shot despite being 11-1.
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“Brock’s not going to do anything to piss Vince off. They have a good relationship” – Dana on Brock’s WWE contract and competing in UFC
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Dana says he’ll talk to Cormier about what’s next if they cant book Brock soon enough for him. Says Gustafsson/Volkan won’t be an interim title fight.
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Dana gives Israel Adesanya a kiss of death. Calls him a cross between Anderson Silva and Jon Jones.
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Dana likes that Izzy wants Costa, but it probably won’t happen.
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Dana says he’s not talking to Conor about a fight until his court case is over.
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That does it for Dana. Looks like Miocic is up next.
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“It sucks. Losing is not fun. Better things in life than losing. It’s DC’s day. Good for him.” – Stipe
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Stipe thought he was winning the fight. Got caught. “it’s Heavyweights. What are you going to do?” Won’t make any excuses. Calls Cormier the better man tonight.
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Stipe said it was a good stoppage.
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Stipe says he just wants to go home. Wants to enjoy his family and daughter.
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Stipe doesn’t care who wins between Brock and DC. And that’s it for him.
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Just waiting on Cormier.
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Cormier is here. With both belts.
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Cormier tells a story about his Bob Cook, Rezendo Sanchez, and other members of his team chasing an active shooter in Vegas this past week. “Those guys will go out there and protect me and my family.”
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“It seemed impossible before. I cant explain the feeling.” Says he doesn’t regret his decision to leave the division years ago. Says this would not have happened without Cain. “He’s a great friend. I love that guy.”
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Cormier says the extra weight made his training camp a bit difficult. Says his back didn’t allow him to get off the couch for a couple days. “I’m 39. Things start to hurt a bit more as you age.”
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Cormier says Stipe hit hard, but not abnormally hard. “When I figured out that it wasnt going to be one punch that slept me, I could start moving forward.”
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“They planned for the uppercut in the clinch. So I went with the right hook.” – Cormier on his gameplan in the clinch
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Cormier says it’ll be difficult to fight a guy like Blaydes or Gustafsson. “Last time I fought Gus, I made no money.”
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Cormier says he saw Brock when he was running sprints backstage. Then saw him when he got in the Octagon. Says he’s known Brock since 97. Was surprised Brock shoved him because they’ve known each other for so long.
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“Staged. They’re idiots. Fine. Stay broke. I’ll do fake fighting until I put my fist upside your head.” – Cormier
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Cormier says he won’t fight Brock if he’s not clean. “We’ll do testing above USADA.” Says he’ll pay out of his own pocket to have Brock tested as often as possible.
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Cormier says tonight felt like destiny. “I earned all of those situations. Even though I came up short.” Says he has no plans to retire despite being on top. “I will go crazy if I have nothing to do.”
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Cormier says he holds the cards when it comes to a third fight with Jones.
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Cormier says tonight validates everything. “You can’t question tonight.” Says he’s no longer tied to Jones. Thinks it’s him, DJ, or GSP as the GOAT.
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“Only Conor did it at the same time.” – Cormier. Praises Stipe and wouldn’t be shocked if Stipe knocks everyone else out and gets another title shot.
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Cormier says he goes out there tries to do his best. “I’ll fight anybody. I’m not afraid of anybody. I’m gonna go out there and let my skills fly. It’s worked 21 out of 23 times. That’s pretty good.”
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If Brock didn’t distract him in the Octagon, Cormier said he would have cried in there, thanking his friends and family.
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Cormier says he won’t fight Volkov or Lewis. “Not big enough fights.” Says it’s Brock, Miocic, or Jones. “If Gus does something special, I’ll fight him again. Because he’s acting like he won the first one. He can get it.”
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
Cormier once again puts over Cain for caring about him. Says the two shared a moment in the locker room after the fight. “I don’t want to ruin the aura of Cain, but he was crying.” Calls Cain the best heavyweight ever.
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Cormier says he told Dana to make sure two belts were in the arena. “I had a feeling.”
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“Brock is the WWE champion. But when he comes over here, there’s no script. There’s no being easy on the punches. There’s no Braun Strowman. He’ll have to answer for his words and that shove.” Says he would love to appear on WWE if they wanted him.
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Cormier says he has no problem facing Brock but not Jones despite their drug test history because “we’re living in my world now. I make the rules.”
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Cormier advises Stipe to work on his clinch game. Says he didn’t put on any weight. “This is what I weigh.”
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“Hey guys. Thank you. Can you believe this shit? It’s fucking crazy right? Lets get some photos. I want this to live forever like Conor’s did.” And that does it for the champ champ.
— Fightful MMA (@FightfulMMA) July 8, 2018
