Stipe Miocic will finally get what he has wanted since last summer.
Daniel Cormier is set to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Miocic in a rematch at UFC 241 on Aug. 17 in Anaheim, ESPN reported Tuesday night.
“DC” has been linked to a potential bout against Brock Lesnar ever since he won the belt with a first-round knockout of Miocic last July at UFC 226, but ESPN reported Tuesday night that Lesnar has confirmed his retirement to UFC president Dana White.
Miocic, the winningest heavyweight champion in UFC history, has several times called for a rematch against Cormier since dropping the title. But with the Cormier vs. Lesnar bout targeted, it didn’t seem like Miocic’s wish would come true — until now.
Cormier has defended the heavyweight title once; he submitted Derrick Lewis last November at UFC 230. The 40-year-old has been battling numerous injuries since that bout. Cormier is also a former UFC light heavyweight champion; he was stripped of it late last year ahead of a vacant title fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson.
Miocic, prior to the Cormier loss, defended his title against Francis Ngannou, Junior dos Santos, and Alistair Overeem. He won the strap in 2016 with a first-round knockout of Fabricio Werdum.
Cormier vs. Miocic 2 is the first fight set for UFC 241.