LAS VEGAS – Supporting Miocic has no problem stepping aside while Daniel Cormier takes the spotlight in Saturday’s heavyweight title trilogy at UFC 252.
In addition to being a rubber ball that UFC President Dana White says will determine the greatest heavyweight of all time, Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) promises to make it his retirement.
Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is not the most outspoken of fighters as it is. In this instance, he is more than happy to have Cormier relax all media attention prior to his exit from the sport.
“All right,” Miocic told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 252 pre-fight news conference on Thursday. ‘He can take it all, man. It’s all good. I find it nothing. Listen, good for him. I’ll just hang in the back. ”
While Cormier takes the hull off the headlines, Miocic said his focus is on the task at hand. He has spent the last three years with Cormier as his lone opponent and will become the first fighter in UFC history to get the same enemy in three consecutive bouts. Miocic said he looks forward to putting this chapter of his career behind him.
“Thank God we’re done with this,” Miocic said. ‘It’s been great. We’re ready. Rubber match, everyone wants a trilogy, but when all is said and done, it will be over. … I think it’s always personal when you fight, because (your opponent is) trying to do something. They’re trying to defeat you. They are trying to take something away from you.
‘I have no bad will against the mother, and he will have a good pension. God bless him, and I wish nothing but the best for him. ”
Cormier’s retirement has been the dominant storyline leading up to UFC 252, but within that subject, questions have been raised about Miocic’s fighting future. He turns new week 38 and has been in his own right in a number of gruesome fights.
Miocic fully intends to keep his belt at UFC 252, defending the belt more thereafter.
He said he does not currently share Cormier’s plan to leave after this event upside down and will try to continue on the UFC Hall of Fame-worthy resume he has already compiled.
“I think about every retirement since my debut at UFC 136 about retirement,” Miocic said. ‘I love what I do. The moment I have no fun, and it works when I’m a job, I’m out. I had a great camp, to the best of my ability, while I was in quarantine while there was a pandemic at bar. But honestly I feel great. We’ll see how long I can go. I do not know about 40. God bless DC, I do not know about it. But for a while longer. ”
UFC 252 takes place on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card is after pay per view following prelims on ESPN / ESPN +.
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