Tag: UFC 226

Cain Velasquez Teases Light Heavyweight Move With Cormier Going Up

Former UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez recently ruffled a few feathers in the MMA world when he said ‘things could get interesting’ if longtime teammate and training partner Daniel Cormier won the belt from current heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in their champion vs. champion superfight at July’s UFC 226. Many were quick to assume that meant […]

The post Cain Velasquez Teases Light Heavyweight Move With Cormier Going Up appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Former UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez recently ruffled a few feathers in the MMA world when he said ‘things could get interesting’ if longtime teammate and training partner Daniel Cormier won the belt from current heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in their champion vs. champion superfight at July’s UFC 226.

Many were quick to assume that meant Velasquez would possibly face Cormier for his former title, yet during an interview on today’s (Mon., January 29, 2018) The MMA Hour, Velasquez said it wasn’t necessarily what he meant by his reaction.

To him, it signified a decision to be made, one that may involve considering a move down to light heavyweight as Cormier once did to avoid fighting him:

“What did I mean by that?” Velasquez said. “Things could get interesting, man. He’s at heavyweight, I’m at heavyweight. What am I gonna drop down? I don’t know. Things could get interesting, yes. We don’t know how things are going to play out. I think it’s cool what he’s doing, he’s going up in weight, but s**t he’s fought there before at heavyweight so he’s gonna do it again.”

The former champion expounded on that potential, noting that he believed he could indeed make the weight if pushed to it. He won’t make any rash choices, and will remain focused on helping Cormier prepare for one of the biggest fights of his career – in addition to himself for his own rumored comeback:

“If I had to do it, I could do it,” Velasquez said. “I think it would be hard, but it’s just the will of the person. If I really want to do something, I could do it. Again, things could get interesting, so we’re just going off of that and we’re just going to play it by ear. First things first, helping him get ready, me get ready, and then getting that job done in July, both of us.”

Cormier recently detailed the conversation he had with Velasquez before accepting the fight with Miocic, as he had stated he wanted him to get the shot instead after Dana White teased Miocic vs. Cormier right after UFC 220.

Velasquez reiterated Cormier’s statement that he supported his decision, and added he was also trying to get a fight at UFC 226 so they could prepare on the same schedule:

“We talked about it and I’m all for it, I support Daniel 100 percent,” Velasquez said. “I feel like I just have to go back and prove myself. I have to get a fight and show people why everyone should fear me, so I have to go out there, I have to look impressive. I do plan on fighting again, I’ve never had talks of a retirement. Not yet. I still want to do this.

“He called me up, he told me that he had this opportunity. I was just like, ‘Yes, we can do it.’ We can get ready together, that’s the best for us. He’s fighting on that card in July, I’m going to try to get on that, hopefully. I think that would be perfect and enough time for me to get on that card and me and Daniel can train together and get ready together because when we do that, that’s when we are the best.

Velasquez closed by putting any speculation that he would fight Cormier to bed by saying he would not.

And even if they did, he said, it wouldn’t be quite as fun as it sounds:

“Would I ever fight (Cormier)? No, I wouldn’t,” Velasquez said. “I wouldn’t fight him. I think he feels the same way. We’re teammates, we’re friends, we’ve done a lot with each other. I think it would be easy, me and him, just because we spar so much, s**t, it would just be another day at the office.”

The post Cain Velasquez Teases Light Heavyweight Move With Cormier Going Up appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Cain Velasquez Hopes to Make Return at UFC 226

Cain Velasquez wants to join Daniel Cormier on the UFC 226 card in July. Velasquez was last seen inside the Octagon back in July 2016. If he waits until UFC 226 to compete, he would be out of action for two years. On that night, his teammate Cormier wi…

Cain Velasquez wants to join Daniel Cormier on the UFC 226 card in July. Velasquez was last seen inside the Octagon back in July 2016. If he waits until UFC 226 to compete, he would be out of action for two years. On that night, his teammate Cormier will challenge Stipe Miocic for the UFC […]

Daniel Cormier Says Win Over Stipe Miocic Would Make Him GOAT

Daniel Cormier’s mixed martial arts career has been nothing short of incredible. The former Olympian and reigning UFC light heavyweight champion possesses a near perfect 20-1-1 professional record. That lone loss came against bitter rival Jon Jones, and the draw was also originally a stoppage loss against Jones, although it was overturned when “Bones” failed […]

The post Daniel Cormier Says Win Over Stipe Miocic Would Make Him GOAT appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Daniel Cormier’s mixed martial arts career has been nothing short of incredible.

The former Olympian and reigning UFC light heavyweight champion possesses a near perfect 20-1-1 professional record. That lone loss came against bitter rival Jon Jones, and the draw was also originally a stoppage loss against Jones, although it was overturned when “Bones” failed another drug test.

Those losses to Jones, in addition to his issues outside of the cage, have had a bit of a negative impact on Cormier’s career, but the current 205-pound king currently has a huge challenge in front of him and one that doesn’t involve Jones.

Late last week, it was announced that Cormier would be moving up in weight to challenge Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 226 on July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

If he comes out of UFC 226 with another title wrapped around his shoulder, Cormier feels as if he would be the ‘greatest fighter of all time’:

“I win this fight July 7, I’m the greatest fighter of all time,” Cormier told Ariel Helwani on today’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I’ve done something that was unheard of and that’s what I’ve always chased. I’ve always chased that. I chased it in the fights with (Jon) Jones because even regardless of the belts, I would always say, ‘Once I beat Jones, I will be the greatest fighter of all time.’ So I believe that once I do this, something that was so crazy that no one even has attempted it, I feel like I’m in the conversation for the best fighter of all time.”

Although he’s well aware of how largely this fight could impact his legacy, Cormier also admits that Miocic represents a ‘very tough’ opponent:

“When I think of a fight against Stipe, it’s a very tough fight and it’s a very difficult mountain for me to climb,” Cormier said. “But the reality was I’ve always talked about competition and legacy and when you think about legacy, if I’m able to pull this off, there’s no denying what I have meant to this sport and what I will leave behind whenever I’m done.”

Heading into the super fight, Miocic will look to make the fourth defense of his title, while “DC” will look to become only the second fighter in promotional history to simultaneously win two titles in two different weight classes.

The post Daniel Cormier Says Win Over Stipe Miocic Would Make Him GOAT appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Daniel Cormier Reveals Conversation With Cain Velasquez Before Accepting Stipe Miocic Fight

It’s widely known that Cain Velasquez played a large role in longtime AKA teammate Daniel Cormier’s decision to drop down to light heavyweight a few years ago. At the time, Velasquez was at the top of the heavyweight division. Since then, however, injuries have held him back, as he hasn’t competed since July 2016 and only […]

The post Daniel Cormier Reveals Conversation With Cain Velasquez Before Accepting Stipe Miocic Fight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

It’s widely known that Cain Velasquez played a large role in longtime AKA teammate Daniel Cormier’s decision to drop down to light heavyweight a few years ago.

At the time, Velasquez was at the top of the heavyweight division. Since then, however, injuries have held him back, as he hasn’t competed since July 2016 and only twice since October of 2013.

As of now, Velasquez appears to be on the road to recovery, although a timetable for his return still remains unclear. Because of that, Cormier jumped at the opportunity to challenge heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in an exciting super fight at UFC 226 this July during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Recently speaking up about the fight, “DC” said that after speaking with Velasquez, he realized that it was simply too big an opportunity to pass up:

“I’m excited,” Cormier told TMZ Sports. “It’s a big deal. Great opportunity to fight the greatest heavyweight champion of all time and try to cement myself as one of the best fighters to ever do it.

“I just want to fight. Plus, it’s such a big opportunity. It’s one of those that you can’t really pass up whenever it’s offered to you. Once I talked to Cain Velasquez and he gave me the go-ahead and well wishes, I was like, ‘You know what? I have to do it.’

“I’ve never been afraid of a fight. That’s one thing: I’ve never been afraid of a fight. It was always about whether or not it worked in terms of what I was trying to do and what my teammate had going. Cain said to me he doesn’t think that he would get a title shot right away — ‘So let’s get you prepared to try to be the heavyweight champ of the world.’”

Both Cormier and Miocic last competed at UFC 220 in Boston earlier this month.

Cormier successfully defended his light heavyweight title with a stoppage victory over Volkan Oezdemir, while Miocic successfully defended his strap with a dominant decision win over surging hype train Francis Ngannou.

Moving up in weight, “DC” will get the opportunity to become only the second fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold two titles in two different weight classes, but he’ll have to beat arguably the most dominant in UFC heavyweight history to do it.

It’s a challenge few outside of Cormier would be willing to take on, but like he said about the fight, it’s just an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. And the fans should be the ones who win in July.

The post Daniel Cormier Reveals Conversation With Cain Velasquez Before Accepting Stipe Miocic Fight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Cain Velasquez Reacts To Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier

The mixed martial arts world was handed one of the biggest fights of the year yesterday when the UFC announced record-setting heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic would be taking on light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at July 7’s UFC 226 from Las Vegas after the two squared off as opposing coaches on TUF 27. The champion […]

The post Cain Velasquez Reacts To Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The mixed martial arts world was handed one of the biggest fights of the year yesterday when the UFC announced record-setting heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic would be taking on light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at July 7’s UFC 226 from Las Vegas after the two squared off as opposing coaches on TUF 27.

The champion vs. champion superfight had been hinted at, especially by UFC president Dana White, following Miocic and Cormier’s dominant wins at last weekend’s (Sat., January 20, 2018) UFC 220 from Boston, yet the talk was seemingly shut down by “DC,” who said that he would rather his good friend and teammate Cain Velasquez get the next shot at Miocic, even going as far as to admit he ‘can’t beat’ Velasquez.

Something changed very quickly, however, and in a sense, the outcome is much better than giving Velasquez an immediate title shot after back-to-back two-years periods of inactivity. There’s no doubt whatsoever that he’s one of the best heavyweights in MMA when healthy – the problem is he’s rarely healthy and the UFC may not have wanted to risk another title fight on his name only to see it fall apart.

He’s been rumored to be training like a madman and nearing his return, something Cormier himself has discussed of late. The former champ addressed the scene himself on social media, confirming he would be in the gym every day to help Cormier, but that’s when the comradery seemed to take a turn.

Check out what Velasquez said might unfold:

It’s surprising to hear Velasquez say things could ‘get interesting,’  suggesting Cormier may end up fighting his longtime training partner for the heavyweight title.

But it would have to be in Cormier’s most likely final fight, as the 38-year-old 205-pound champion recently set a date of March 2019 for his retirement from MMA. “DC” has also repeatedly stated he would not fight his AKA ‘brothers’ Velasquez and Luke Rockhold.

Despite his support for his friend, Velasquez has at least somewhat different of a view on the situation, however. Could they end up squaring off in a massive superfight themselves?

 

The post Cain Velasquez Reacts To Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Cain Velasquez Still Wants UFC Gold if Cormier Wins Heavyweight Title

Things may get interesting between Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier. Yesterday (Jan. 26), the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced a “super fight” between heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and light heavyweight kingpin Cormier. T…

Things may get interesting between Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier. Yesterday (Jan. 26), the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced a “super fight” between heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and light heavyweight kingpin Cormier. The bout will headline UFC 226 on July 7. Both men will also serve as coaches on season 27 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” […]