Brock Lesnar out, Stipe Miocic in against Daniel Cormier

A highly anticipated rematch between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic is in the works, and it’s about time.

A report from Brett Okamoto and Ariel Helwani of ESPN from earlier today suggested that Brock Lesnar would be “retiring” from mixed martial arts effective immediately. The plan was always for Lesnar to return and slide straight into a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout with Cormier after their confrontation that occurred moments after Cormier won the title at UFC 226.

Dana White and the UFC were seemingly committed to getting that fight made for Cormier, stating: “I know Cormier really wants that fight [with Lesnar] and Cormier is awesome… all the things he has done for this sport and this company, I want to make that man happy before he retires”.

Lesnar’s sudden retirement allows Cormier to circle back to his original promise that he would fight Stipe Miocic if the fight with Lesnar would not eventuate.

“But I’ll tell you this right now on record… If Brock Lesnar doesn’t make it to the fight for any reason, I’ll fight Stipe again. That is not a problem. There is no reason I wouldn’t fight Stipe. I’m only fighting Brock because I’m fighting Brock. But if he doesn’t make it, I’ll fight Stipe again,” Cormier stated during the UFC 226 post-fight broadcast.

BREAKING: DC vs. Miocic 2 on tap for UFC pay-per-view on Aug. 17 in Anaheim, California. Both fighters confirm they are in the process of finalizing the bout to @ESPN. pic.twitter.com/LDBYf1NqtJ

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 1, 2019

Per Brett Okamoto of ESPN, Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic II is in the works for August 17. That date lines up with a scheduled ESPN+ pay-per-view event in Anaheim, California.

Although the fight has not been finalized, both parties have expressed interest in signing the bout agreement and the UFC is reportedly working toward getting the fight locked in as soon as possible.

It appears as though Stipe Miocic’s slow play was the right approach after all.

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