UFC 252: Stipe Miocic Takes Rubber Match With Daniel Cormier

Stipe Miocic remains the UFC’s heavyweight champion following UFC 252, as he outscored legend Daniel Cormier for the decision win.

Round one

Miocic tossed a couple of inside leg kicks to begin the fight. Cormier pressed forward and Miocic dug a left to the body. Moments later, Cormier shot in momentarily took the champ down. Miocic planted a right hand mid round and then went to the body as well. Cormier scored with a nice leg kick and a jab. Cormier grazed Miocic with a massive right.

Moments later, the action was halted as Miocic took an eye poke. Both men fired kicks when the action resumed and Miocic landed a couple of rights. Cormier followed up with big shots of his own. Late in the round, Cormier rocked Miocic with thumping right.

Round two

Cormier took a low blow moments into round two and the fight was halted momentarily. Miocic flurried in. Cormier scored a with a couple of big punches from inside the pocket. Miocic went to the body again with a hook. “DC” stuck a couple of jabs and Miocic planted a left hook. Cormier planted a series of jabs and a cross. Cormier fired in hard calf kick late in the frame. Miocic charged in and rocked Cormier with a series of punches. The round ended with Miocic on top. Wow.

Round three

Miocic came out pressuring and Cormier appeared to be hurt still. Miocic tagged Cormier with another hard right and both men winged big shots. Cormier fired in a calf kick but Miocic countered with a hard right and pushed “DC” to the cage. Miocic scored with a right on the break, but “DC’ picked up the pace late in the frame. Miocic scored with a right and Cormier took an eye poke before the round ended. Cormier’s left eye was badly swollen.

Round four

Both fighters came out firing punches and Miocic clinched up after a couple of exchanges. Afte the break, Miocic landed a couple of rights. Miocic clinched up again, but Cormier broke free. ‘DC” scored with a hard right, and Miocic pushed him to the cage. After another striking exchange, the action briefly returned to the cage. Cormier planted a couple of big rights before the round ended

Round five

Miocic came out with some nice head movement and hard combos to begin the final round. The champ pushed Cormier to the fence again. Miocic changed levels moments later, and then scored with some hard shots. Miocic once again, pushed Cormier to the fence, but “DC” broke free. Miocic tried a takedown moments laer but “DC” defended. Cormier scored with a hard right and Miocic pushed the former champ to the fence. Neither man was able to land a telling shot before the final horn went. Close fight.

All three judges scored the fight for Miocic. While talking to Joe Rogan afterward, Cormier said he couldn’t see out of his left eye after the eye poke.

Here are the complete results for UFC 252, which took place at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas.

Stipe Miocic def. Daniel Cormier via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
Marlon Vera def. Sean O’Malley via TKO (elbows) R1, 4:40
Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Junior Dos Santos via TKO (punches) R2, 3:47
Daniel Pineda def. Herbert Burns via TKO (elbows) R2, 4:37
Merab Dvalishvili def. John Dodson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Vinc Pichel def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Virna Jandiroba def. Felice Herrig via submission (armbar) R1, 1:44
Danny Chavez def. TJ Brown via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Livinha Souza def. Ashley Yoder via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Chris Daukaus def. Parker Porter via TKO (punches & knee) R1, 4:28
Kai Kamaka def. Tony Kelley via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)