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“He feels like Stipe is the fight he can get up for and that’s what he wants, and he doesn’t want anyone else.”
Daniel Cormier is playing the waiting game.
‘DC’ hasn’t fought since his TKO loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 241 and the former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion has no intention of returning to the Octagon unless offered an immediate rematch.
According to UFC president Dana White, Cormier has been offered other fights but the Olympian is only interested in avenging his loss to Miocic. Cormier is currently tied 1-1 with Miocic, having KO’d the two-time heavyweight champ in their first championship matchup at UFC 226.
“It’s very clear – [Stipe is] hurt and when he’s not, we’ll make the fight [against Cormier],” White said in a recent interview with ESPN (h/t BJPenn.com). “Cormier basically came out and said that Stipe has the ability to retire him. He says if he doesn’t take this fight them I’m gonna retire. We’ll see how this thing plays out, but I hope that’s not the case.
“Stipe is the fight he can get up for and that’s what he wants.”@danawhite says @dc_mma has been offered other fights, but is dead set on a trilogy fight with Miocic (via @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/k9bt7thvN4
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 6, 2020
“I have offered him other fights,” White continued. “I don’t want him to retire, I don’t think he should retire. You know me, I’m usually the guy chasing guys to retire. He feels like Stipe is the fight he can get up for and that’s what he wants, and he doesn’t want anyone else. I can’t make him fight anybody else. He needs to do it, so, I’d like to see that fight happen. Hopefully it does.’”
Miocic is currently recovering from an eye injury but is expected to return to the Octagon in June. The part-time firefighter has hinted that he could go on to defend his heavyweight title against Francis Ngannou instead of Cormier.