July 16, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Cormier/Brock Lesnar fallout from UFC 226
After 23 years of competing at the highest level in the world at two different sports, Daniel Cormier, just eight months before his 40th birthday and planned retirement, finally achieved his ultimate dream.
Cormier, saying he was fighting for legacy, became only the second simultaneous two division champion in UFC history, joining Conor McGregor. But his UFC heavyweight title win over Stipe Miocic on 7/7 in Las Vegas was far more than that.
Cormier went from a guy who said he finally achieved his “best-in-the-world” goal when he first won the light heavyweight title, only for his entire three year reign be marred by the fact he failed twice against Jon Jones, who the public saw as the real champion.
But not this time. Stipe Miocic was the real champion, with no debate attached. He overwhelmed Francis Ngannou and stopped Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem and Junior Dos Santos, basically everyone in the division of any note except the frequently injured Cain Velasquez.
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.