Daniel Cormier fans will get a trilogy fight, but it won't be against the long-rivaled Jon Jones. Instead, Cormier will be returning to the Octagon one last time against a rival that came towards the end of his career, Stipe Miocic.
Speaking to ESPN's Ariel Helwani, the former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion confirmed he is willing to return but only in a fight against currenty heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
Cormier defeated Miocic with a stunning first-round knockout in 2018 to win the heavyweight belt and become a double champion. He defended the heavyweight title once against Derrick Lewis before
losing to Stipe Miocic in a rematch in August of this year.
Cormier wouldn't commit to returning to the Octagon following his loss, but it now sounds like he's almost certainly going to return one last time.
"I'm gonna fight this guy again," Cormier said.
"My intention is to fight him in the right way," he added, referring to what he called the worst fight IQ in the history of his career. Cormier was likely ahead on the judges' scorecards heading into the fourth round when Miocic rocked him with multiple brutal body shots before landing a right hand to the head.
"That was just great work by him," Cormier said. "It goes to the fighting mindset and the ability of Stipe Miocic. He went hard body shot. And the one that hurt me, instead of chasing that again, he went up top."
"I'll go fight him again. Win or lose, I'm not fighting again. This will be the only time I step foot in the Octagon again," Cormier promised.
"It has to be Stipe. No one else matters."
The last statement likely refers to speculation about a possible trilogy match with Jon Jones, who has one win over Cormier (and one no contest).