“DC” warns Miocic not to underestimate him a second time.
Daniel Cormier senses danger in Stipe Miocic’s future this weekend (Sat., Aug. 17, 2019) at UFC 241 if the former Heavyweight champion chalks up their last encounter to a lucky punch.
“In the build up to this fight — and there are a lot of things that have been said — I feel he was fighting well. He took me down, he hit me with some good shots. When you listen to him talk, it sounds like I landed a lucky punch. Like it wasn’t very competitive,” Cormier told MMA Mania and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 241 open workouts.
“If that’s the mindset he’s training with, I think it’s a massive mistake. I was very honest with myself that he hit me. I mean one time he hit me with two right hands back-to-back…. One time he hit me and I wasn’t even looking at him. It landed clean on the button.
“I know how dangerous he is, but I didn’t go and try to reinvent the wheel. I’m the same guy,” Cormier continued. “I’m the same guy who fought Gary Frazier in [my] first fight. You’re not going to see me doing spinning back kicks and s—t. You remember I tried that against Roy Nelson? It was horrible. I also tried that jump kick against Frank Mir. When I started experimenting with s—t, I looked like an idiot. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m just going to do what I do.”
Cormier smells Miocic’s frustration and looks to capitalize on his opponent’s aggression.
“He’s frustrated sitting from afar — I would love for him to come in there and try to kill me,” Cormier said. “It’ll make it worse. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not afraid of anybody. I think that’s what people don’t really, truly get. I think he feels he was giving his best. And if that was his best, it’s not enough. Really, it’s not enough … I respect the guy, I just think I’m better than him.”
UFC 241 takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., this Saturday night (Aug. 17, 2019). MMAmania.com will be on location the entire fight week.