Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Before their trilogy fight, at ‘UFC 252 – ‘MIOCIC VS. CORMIER 3’, watch the first two fights between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier – for free!
Tonight Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier throw down against each other for the third time in their MMA careers. Just like the previous occasions, the UFC’s heavyweight title will be on the line—currently being held by Miocic.
But before those two fight, inside the cozy comforts of the UFC APEX, why not watch what the big boys did in their previous fights (in a larger cage, too). To help you do this the UFC has uploaded both of those fights to YouTube. Check them out below.
Miocic and Cormier’s first encounter happened at UFC 226 on July 7, 2018. Miocic was the reigning champion, having won the belt from Fabricio Werdum two years prior. Heading into this won he had defended the heavyweight title for a record three fights (versus Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos and Francis Ngannou).
Cormier came into that bout searching for ‘champ champ status’, as the already reigning UFC light heavyweight champion. He had just defended the 205 lb belt to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220.
This first Miocic fight was Cormier’s first heavyweight bout since he beat Roy Nelson by unanimous decision at UFC 166 in 2013.
As you can see, Miocic vs. Cormier 1 never came close to a decision. The entire thing lasted just over four and a half minutes, with ‘DC’ stunning the heavyweight champ with a KO punch.
The rematch between these two happened a year an a month later. Between then, Cormier defended the heavyweight title against Derrick Lewis (while barely breaking a sweat). Miocic didn’t fight and opted to sit out and wait for his second crack at Cormier.
When that second crack came, Miocic made the most of it. In the main event of UFC 241 on August 17, 2019 Miocic got his revenge on Cormier; TKOing the champion in round 4.
With both fighters owning a stoppage win over the other, tonight presents a truly intriguing rubber match. You can find out how to watch Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3 right here.