Stipe Miocic Says A Rematch With Cormier Would Mean More Than Regaining The Belt

Former UFC heavyweight king Stipe Miocic has not fought inside the Octagon since losing to Daniel Cormier in their heavyweight super-fight at UFC 226 last July.

Light heavyweight champ Cormier knocked out Miocic in the opening round of their fight to become only the second fighter in the UFC to simultaneously hold a title in two different divisions. Since that night, Miocic has campaigned for a rematch with Cormier, without success.

Cormier has reiterated that he intends on retiring from the sport for good before his 40th birthday at the end of March and Miocic is hopeful that the champ still has enough time to give him a rematch, claiming the fight itself would mean more than getting the title back.

“Oh, 100 percent,” Miocic told MMA Fighting. “It’s everything. Just because I know I’m the better fighter. I believe I’m the better fighter. In my heart.

“I felt like I was winning the fight. I felt like I kind of got off track of what I was doing, not doing my usual and listening to the game plan. And just kind of overstepped what I needed to do and he caught me with a punch — a punch I didn’t see. I’ll say to this day, he doesn’t hit as hard as [Francis] Ngannou. It was just right on the button, right where it needed to be.”

“It wasn’t like he was wiping the floor with me,” Miocic said. “I just knew I was the better fighter in there. And let me tell you something, next time it happens, next time we fight, you’ll see a different fighter. A whole new me. A lot has changed.

Miocic has gone on to become a dad since the fight with Cormier and said he’s enjoying his time away from the Octagon and he’s staying in shape with the hope he gets the call for the fight.

“My plan, of course, is to get that rematch,” Miocic said. “I’ve been saying that this whole time. We’ll see what happens. Just right now, I’m in the gym getting better every day, loving life, enjoying my daughter every day, watching her grow up.”