June 11, 2020 - Daniel Cormier has announced that he will retire after the trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic this August.

Gol.hr reports that the official date of the trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier has officially been announced, sending martial arts fans around the world into a frenzy. The fight is scheduled for August 15 at the UFC 252 spectacle, which will almost certainly take place in the U.S., and not on the islet of Abu Dhabi, where the UFC will hold as many as four events in July in just two weeks. 

Thus, the final act of the trilogy between the Croatian American, the most successful heavyweight in the history of the UFC, and the great man from Louisiana, who has already announced that it will be his farewell fight, awaits us. A year after he almost retired, Miocic now really has the chance to send Cormier into retirement. 

"Stipe turned out to be fair, just as Cormier was fair to him and gave him a chance to fight back and return the title. Cormier also deserved that third match, but we are all waiting for Stipe to confirm the victory over Cormier," said Igor Pokrajac for Gol.

Stipe is rarely available to the media, so is the case now. However, Cormier already announced a knockout, but also that this will definitely be his last fight, in the show with the famous martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani.

"I love being a fighter, I love doing it, but I also love being a commentator. I like what my life looks like after my martial arts career, but I still have unfinished business. It sounds like Stipe wants to silence me so I finally have a chance to silence him. I will not do any more fights after this one. I will ride away with the sunset, I am ready to go," explained the great from Louisiana.

Regardless of the fourth round, knockout and champion mentality, Stipe suffered great damage in the first two rounds of the last fight against Cormier. He received 180 blows in the fight and eye damage, which resulted in a long recovery.

By the end of July, the UFC is preparing as many as seven shows. There is no doubt that the summer overture to probably the greatest heavyweight trilogy will also be filled with great fights.

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May 25, 2020 - Stipe Miocic and his team are currently negotiating his return to the octagon with the UFC.

Gol.hr reports that in an interview with MMA Fighting, Stipe Miocic confirmed his return to the octagon, despite constant rumors that he could retire due to an eye injury he suffered in the fight against Daniel Cormier. Stipe is determined to return to the octagon by the end of the year and doesn’t care much about what others think and say about him.

"There is no doubt that I will fight by the end of this year. That is 100 percent certain," Miocic said.

The coronavirus pandemic is currently holding back the UFC champion of Croatian roots from returning to training and preparing to defend another title. The state of Ohio where he lives is still in quarantine and training is not allowed. Despite this, many heavyweights complain that Stipe is holding back the heavyweight division and that he should soon fight or relinquish his championship belt.

"I don't know what people want from me. Everyone says I am holding up the division, but I don't know how? Everyone who can train normally, great for you, but I live in another state with different rules. My coach has closed the gym and there is no training as long as this lasts. That’s why everyone should shut up because they’re idiots," the UFC heavyweight champion said sharply.

Stipe also commented on the words of his rival Cormier, who suggested that he build a training center at home.

"I don't care what he thinks. I've never cared about that. Honestly, this guy is contradictory every now and then. In his opinion, I'm not a champion. Everyone now has something to say: 'Defend the title or leave it.' I don't care at all right now. Stop crying."

Stipe also confirmed that he is in talks with the UFC and that they are looking for an optimal date for him to return.

"I want to get back as soon as possible. I'm not trying to getaway. I want to fight. I'm going to fight five rounds for the title against a very good fighter and I want to be ready. We're talking to the UFC and looking for the best possible date to return to the octagon," Stipe said.

Recall, Stipe regained the title in August last year after losing it to Cormier a year earlier. A year of inactivity could cost him his belt, but we believe the UFC won’t decide on such a drastic move against the most successful heavyweight champion in the organization’s history.

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August 18, 2019 - The 36-year-old Croatian-American Stipe Miocic defeated 40-year-old American Daniel Cormier by a knockout in the fourth round of the UFC 241 fight held in Anaheim, California. Stipe has thus won sweet revenge on Cormier and is bringing back the UFC Heavyweight Champion title to Ohio after he lost it to Cormier in Las Vegas 13 months ago.

HRT reports that the fight between Miocic and Cormier lasted more than 19 minutes, in which the title defender had more significant blows (123-98). It seemed that until the decisive moment in the fourth round, Cormier would be the one to take home the victory.

Although Stipe received almost twice as many blows by the fourth round, and most of them in the head, he did not kneel and refused to give up against the world champion. 

In the fourth of grueling combat, Miocic changed his tactics and began to use more blows to the body of his rival. At the beginning of the fifth minute of the fourth round, Miocic hit Cormier with a hook, which was followed by another body shot that visibly weakened the American fighter. Miocic then punched at the liver, pushed Cormier to the fence, and stunned him with a hit to the head and several punches at the left and right for a brutal knockout to end the fight. 

Almost in the same way, just before the end of the first round, Cormier snagged the world title from Miocic 13 months ago in Las Vegas. The Croatian-American fighter has not entered the ring since then, waiting for the opportunity for a rematch. Not only did Stipe get the fight, but he used it to regain his belt, and probably sent the 40-year-old Cormier into retirement.

BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET #AndNew #Again #SM pic.twitter.com/MwYU1G02Ru

— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) August 18, 2019

Until his defeat to Miocic, the former US wrestler was the only undefeated UFC heavyweight champion. But in Anaheim, the tradition continues in UFC heavyweight title fights. Namely, in this Californian city, no heavyweight in history has managed to defend the title, and Cormier became the fourth to lose the belt.

Miocic is not only the UFC Heavyweight champion once again, but he has defended his title more than anyone else in UFC heavyweight history. Recall, Miocic has defended his belt against Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, and Francis Ngannou.

On Saturday night in Anaheim, not only did Stipe win back his heavyweight title, but he also earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

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August 17, 2019 - Stipe Miocic is fighting for the UFC Heavyweight Championship title against Daniel Cormier on Saturday, August 17, at the UFC 241 in Anaheim. The spectacle kicks off on Sunday at 6:00 am Croatian time. 

The famous mixed martial artist with Croatian roots has finally been given a rematch against the American, who knocked him out in the first round last July in Las Vegas. The eventual victory at the UFC 241 would lead to Stipe's fifth title, which would further solidify his status as the best heavyweight in UFC history.

Amidst the craziness before the big UFC spectacle, Stipe telephoned Index.hr from Anaheim, the Californian city where he has the chance to make history. 

"I'm glad you are coming, it's always nice to have someone from Croatia in the hall," Stipe said after the opening address.

The favorite Croatian fighter learned back in May that he would again fight Cormier for the highly anticipated rematch.

"I'm feeling much better now than last time. I've had great training, I've surrounded myself with the best people, and I'm fully prepared for Saturday. Cormier is a dangerous guy, but I'm even more dangerous and I have no doubt about my victory. I know everything I did wrong last time against him, but I'll keep it to myself. Basically, I have to take a lot more care of myself, keep my distance and keep an eye on my hands,” said Miocic.

The bookies, however, do not share Stipe’s opinion, as the odds on his win drop as the fight nears.

"Let go of the bookies; they are there to tear you down!” Stipe expressed. 

The most anticipated fight this year will be watched by thousands of Croats who will rise early in the morning to support Miocic.

"I may sound like a broken record, but you have no idea how much support from Croatia means to me. You know, not every fighter has the luxury of me to be cheered on at the other end of the world by a whole country where he was not born. But I feel like a Croat, and I'm proud of my roots. I get a lot of support messages from Croatia, and it's a really wonderful feeling. The Croats are amazing. I hear from Cro Cop here and there, and he wished me luck,” Stipe said and continued:

"Of course, I also partly feel like a Croat. I talk a lot with my father about Croatia, and I also know some things in Croatian. I understand more than I can speak, so it is wise that we have this conversation in English, haha. I was in Croatia and was delighted and I will definitely come again. My daughter is still young, but she and I will learn Croatian together."

When he's not up against the toughest guys in the world, Miocic is a firefighter in Ohio, a job that is highly regarded in Croatia. It is a job he intends to continue to pursue after completing his career. Index wondered if this would be Stipe’s last fight.

"Don't worry. I'm definitely winning. Hello to everyone in Croatia!"

Translated from Index.hr.

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August 15, 2019 - ESPN gives us a look into 24 hours with Croatian-American mixed martial artist Stipe Miocic. 

We’ve officially begun the countdown to the martial arts spectacle of the year - the rematch of Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic. And while Cormier is especially active on social media leading up to the fight, Miocic is quiet, only briefly stating that ”the belt will be mine again."

However, Miocic has found in a place in the spotlight thanks to ESPN, who gave their readers a closer look into the Croatian-American’s life in a piece titled ‘Inside a 24-hour firehouse shift with UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic’ on August 13, 2019. 

ESPN visited the UFC heavyweight at his part-time job where he is a firefighter at the Valley View Fire Department in Ohio. Miocic was just about to begin a 24-hour shift. 

“The smell of pain-relief cream wafts in from the room where Miocic is changing. He says he's a bit ‘worn out’. He has been in training camp for two months, juggling mixed martial arts training five or six days per week with three firehouse shifts per week. He trains sometimes twice daily, and those firehouse shifts are 12 or 24 hours apiece. This is his last one before he will celebrate his daughter Meelah's first birthday and start to focus full time on trying to reclaim the UFC title he lost to Cormier in July 2018,” writes ESPN. 

“Miocic's name is spelled incorrectly -- ‘Moicic; -- on his fire jacket, and he has never cared enough to get it changed. For the UFC, he's a headliner on the marquee, one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. At the station, spelling his name right isn't even a priority,” they continue. 

ESPN follows Miocic as he begins his shift, and delves into the mixed martial artist’s life from his proud Uber rating to what it's like at home with wife Rochelle and their 6-year-old daughter, Savannah. 

"I just tell people I'm a firefighter," Miocic says. "I'm not looking for any acknowledgment."

You can read the full article on ESPN. 

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