For months now, anticipation has been building between
a possible superfight between current UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Brock Lesnar. Unfortunately, it sounds like fans will never see that fight unfold in the Octagon. Speaking to ESPN, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Lesnar told him he has retired from mixed martial arts.
"He told me he's done. He's retired," White said, adding the UFC will now shift its focus to setting up a rematch between Cormier and Stipe Miocic.
Daniel Cormier actually claimed the heavyweight belt by knocking out Stipe Miocic in the the first round of their title match at UFC 226 in July 2018. Miocic, who had previously defended the title a UFC-record three consecutive times, had been vying for a rematch since his loss, but the UFC was keen on a superfight between Cormier and Lesnar - a match that even the heavyweight champion
said needed to happen.
Now that Lesnar is has officially closed the book on his professional MMA career, the UFC is close to finalizing a heavyweight title rematch between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic for a pay-per-view event on August 17.
"I'm ready," Miocic told ESPN.
"I've been ready. And I'm going to take back what's mine."
While a Cormier-Lesnar superfight would've been one for the ages and the perfect end cap to Cormier's career — he was planning on retired this month but postponed that decision — there's no denying Miocic deserves another shot at reclaiming the belt he defended for so long.