The UFC officially announced on Saturday night that heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will defend his belt against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 241 on August 17 in Anaheim, California. This is a rematch from UFC 226 last July in which Cormier claimed the title after knocking Miocic out by first-round KO.
Prior to that matchup, Miocic defended the division’s championship three times in a row, the most consecutive in UFC history. It was Miocic’s only loss since 2014. He has not fought since.
Cormier initially wanted to fight former heavyweight champion and WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar, but Lesnar last week told UFC president Dana White he does not plan on fighting again.
Cormier has not officially lost since UFC 182 in 2015, a unanimous decision defeat to Jon Jones. He was knocked out by Jones at UFC 214 in 2017 but it was later changed to a ‘no contest’ after Jones tested positive for the steroid turinabol.
Cormier is coming off a second-round submission win against Derrick Lewis in November.