Stipe Miocic Opens Up on Controversial Eye-Poke and Daniel Cormier’s Retirement

UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic spoke to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi and looked back at UFC 252. The marquee pay-per-view event was a defining moment in UFC history, as the stakes were as high as they could be. Stipe Miocic squared off against Daniel Cormier to decide the heavyweight GOAT. Moreover, the fight marked the final fight of Daniel Cormier’s illustrious MMA career.

The Croatian-American fighter picked up the decision victory over DC in a highly entertaining back-and-forth war. The two heavyweights went all out in the cage, but Stipe Miocic reigned supreme and retained his strap. There were certain contentious moments in the build-up to the fight as well as during the 5-round technical battle.

Chiefly, the narrative surrounding the fight was largely that of illegal eye-poked thrown by Cormier. The MMA community as a whole was surprised to see the rubber match, also included damaging eye-pokes on both sides. What’s more, Daniel Cormier suffered the fight altering foul that led him with compromised vision in the championship rounds.

Stipe Miocic spoke out on the overall feud that had festered over the situation that was also largely competitive. Both elite fighters are top of the line athletes, and they were desperate to triumph over the other. Furthermore, fans and media observed a strained relationship develop between the fighters heading into their trilogy fight. He looked back on the incidents of UFC 252.

That’s not how I fight, I don’t think I’ve had an eye poke in a fight before. Only once before prior, I don’t know, but I didn’t even realize I did it. In between those rounds I looked up at the screen and I looked up and I was like ‘oh, I’m so sorry. I legit had no idea I poked him in the eye.”

Stipe Miocic x Daniel Cormier: Burying the hatchet

Stipe Miocic had nothing but positive words for the former two-division UFC champion. Moreover, as the victor of the feud, he harbors no ill will towards Daniel Cormier.

“I wish nothing but happiness for the dude. His wife is having a baby in October. He’s an amazing commentator and an amazing ambassador for the sport. People love that guy.”

The undisputed king in Stipe Miocic now has a tall task ahead of him as he attempts to face the new breed of heavyweights. Chiefly, several tough opponents wait in the wings as he looks to assert his dominance. The famed trilogy match-up will go down as an instant classic in the hearts of MMA fans as time marches on.

Watch: Stipe Miocic weighs in on Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.