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Daniel Cormier really had no plans to fight Stipe Miocic. Ahead of his last fight against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220 in Boston, Cormier repeatedly said his days as a heavyweight were finished.
. . .
That's when UFC President Dana White made a call to Cormier following his win over Oezdemir and sold him on an idea for the fight with Miocic that went beyond financial gain. White played a tune that was the best possible music to Cormier's ears.
"History. The guy doesn't only sell you on financial incentives, he sells you on history," Cormier told FloCombat when explaining how White convinced him to take the fight. "He has worked with me for a number of years now so he knows the types of things that make me perk up. 'History, Daniel, history. Epic. Something that no one has ever done,'" Cormier continued. "Sure, 170 [pounds] and 185, 155, and 145, yes, but no one has legitimately tried as the light heavyweight champ to go fight the heavyweight champ. "'This is the battle for the baddest man on the planet.'"
Now, White may have sold Cormier on the idea of fighting Miocic for the heavyweight title, but the UFC didn't get an affirmative from the light heavyweight champion until he made one more call. That one went to Miocic.
. . .
"I called Stipe," Cormier revealed. "Obviously, you know, great guy, I got to spend some time with him, fantastic champion, just a pillar of his community. I can't say enough good things about Stipe Miocic. With that being said, I told Stipe for $500,000, I'm not fighting Stipe Miocic. I threw out a big[ger] number and said for that number, I'm fighting Stipe Miocic. He goes, 'I fu*king love you.' That's what he said. I said for the right numbers we need to do this. His wife is in the back going, 'Yes, DC!'"
. . .
"I wanted to make sure it was right financially and everything, too," Miocic told FloCombat. "It's a super fight, so I had to make sure it was right financially and make sure it was OK with my wife, too. And make sure it was OK with him. It's a two-way street. We were both OK with it. Why not? Let's do it. It's what the fans want to see."
"It's a deal where this one is not about ill will. This one is not about rivalry. This one is not about any of that stuff," Cormier said. "This is a competition between two of the heaviest guys who are champions to see who walks this Earth with that title. That's it."
Damon Martin
https://www.flocombat.com/articles/...o-stipe-miocic-before-accepting-ufc-226-fight
. . .
That's when UFC President Dana White made a call to Cormier following his win over Oezdemir and sold him on an idea for the fight with Miocic that went beyond financial gain. White played a tune that was the best possible music to Cormier's ears.
"History. The guy doesn't only sell you on financial incentives, he sells you on history," Cormier told FloCombat when explaining how White convinced him to take the fight. "He has worked with me for a number of years now so he knows the types of things that make me perk up. 'History, Daniel, history. Epic. Something that no one has ever done,'" Cormier continued. "Sure, 170 [pounds] and 185, 155, and 145, yes, but no one has legitimately tried as the light heavyweight champ to go fight the heavyweight champ. "'This is the battle for the baddest man on the planet.'"
Now, White may have sold Cormier on the idea of fighting Miocic for the heavyweight title, but the UFC didn't get an affirmative from the light heavyweight champion until he made one more call. That one went to Miocic.
. . .
"I called Stipe," Cormier revealed. "Obviously, you know, great guy, I got to spend some time with him, fantastic champion, just a pillar of his community. I can't say enough good things about Stipe Miocic. With that being said, I told Stipe for $500,000, I'm not fighting Stipe Miocic. I threw out a big[ger] number and said for that number, I'm fighting Stipe Miocic. He goes, 'I fu*king love you.' That's what he said. I said for the right numbers we need to do this. His wife is in the back going, 'Yes, DC!'"
. . .
"I wanted to make sure it was right financially and everything, too," Miocic told FloCombat. "It's a super fight, so I had to make sure it was right financially and make sure it was OK with my wife, too. And make sure it was OK with him. It's a two-way street. We were both OK with it. Why not? Let's do it. It's what the fans want to see."
"It's a deal where this one is not about ill will. This one is not about rivalry. This one is not about any of that stuff," Cormier said. "This is a competition between two of the heaviest guys who are champions to see who walks this Earth with that title. That's it."
Damon Martin
https://www.flocombat.com/articles/...o-stipe-miocic-before-accepting-ufc-226-fight
