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On August 17, 2019, famous pro-wrestling fan Daniel Cormier entered the octagon. It was expected to be another victory over the formerly conquered Stipe Miocic and the announcement of the two-weight champion’s retirement from the UFC to enter the WWE. However, not everything went as planned.
Even though Cormier and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar were already getting the hype train underway, Miocic chucked a spanner in the works. The towering Ohio-native defeated Cormier by TKO, via punches, in the fourth round. Not wanting to go out with a defeat, Cormier eventually agreed to make the Cormier-Miocic saga a trilogy before retiring from the UFC.
While the bout is scheduled for July 1 and the UFC is staging live shows, Cormier’s retirement and heavily touted switch to the WWE may yet be delayed once more.
Cormier calling on Miocic to be his last fight
The date is set for July 1, and UFC president Dana White has made it clear that the UFC heavyweight championship bout will be fought on that night. Daniel Cormier is on track to perform, but Miocic has reportedly run into some problems. The reigning champion underwent eye surgery after Cormier vs. Miocic II and hasn’t had access to a gym over the last couple of months. Miocic has stated that he needs a full training camp to make a return, which may rule him out until after August.
Even with this, it’s expected that the reigning champion will be in line for the fight. Miocic stands as the favorite to see out the trilogy as the 2-1 victor, with the online betting setting him at -125 to Cormier’s +100. Cormier and White are further encouraging the third chapter, saying that they won’t wait and would even bring up the high-flying Francis Ngannou to fill in if needed. With so much weighing on this fight, particularly it likely being the last chance to have the third bout, the trilogy is expected to go ahead.
Will July 1 commence Cormier’s move to the WWE?
It has been rumoured for a couple of years that Daniel Cormier would follow Brock Lesnar to the WWE to settle their well-publicized feud, but nothing materialized. This is greatly due to Cormier continuing to extend his UFC legacy until he was shocked by Miocic.
The star has confirmed that he was being lined up as a commentator in the WWE and that the company has discussed their desire to work with him. So, while Cormier may not be getting sized up for a fight in the ring, it’s possible that, regardless of the delay, the former UFC champ could still be making his way into the WWE in the future.
It does appear as though a bout against Miocic to finish the trilogy will be Cormier’s final fight, allowing him to pursue his WWE career after July 1. However, if Ngannou is called up, the now 41-year-old might just stick around for Miocic. Even though he would be able to go out as the champion, the 1-1 score with rival Miocic may be weighing on him.
In all likelihood, WWE fans shouldn’t have to wait too long for Daniel Cormier to transition to pro-wrestling. Even if the move initially puts him behind the mic, there’s always the chance that he could leap into the ring – perhaps to stare-down a towering Brock Lesnar.