With No Weight Cut to Consider, Daniel Cormier Feels Stronger Heading Into UFC 226

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is looking forward to becoming a two-division world champion when he faces heavyweight kinh Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, which takes place on July 7 during the promotion’s International Fight Week.

After UFC president Dana White expressed to the media that a superfight between "DC" and Stipe Miocic would be one that a lot of people would like to see, both fighters accepted the offer to face each other. Both champions also agreed to become coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 26” and have been much respectful towards each other during the season.

During a recent conference call, Cormier said that not having to cut weight has been beneficial for him heading into his matchup with Miocic.

"It's good that I don't have to make weight, it's just one less thing to worry about," the champion said. "I feel much stronger. When I fought at heavyweight, when I punched people it had an effect on them and lately I haven't had that at 205. So [at heavyweight] I see the effect that my hands and legs are having on the guys when I make contact.”

According to Cormier, Miocic’s success as heavyweight champ makes it the most significant fight of his career to date.

"This is the biggest fight on my career because I'm fighting the most successful heavyweight champ of the world. I've fought in a lot of big, big spots and Stipe has too, and I believe that this would rank high — if not higher —-than everything I've ever competed at.”

Now 39 years old, Cormier knows his time in the sport is limited. He is sticking to his retirement date of 2019, as he doesn’t want to fight much beyond his 40th birthday.

"I want to be able to spend more time with my family, do more with my wife, spend more time with my kids, and just kind of live a normal life,” he said. “My life hasn't been normal since I was 15 years old, when I started traveling the world representing our country. It's never been normal, and I'm ready to kind of live normal.”

UFC 226 take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will air live on pay-per-view.