- Stipe Miocic set to defend heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier at UFC 226
- It will be the first time in two current champions at different weights will fight
- Miocic and Cormier will also be head coaches for the upcoming season of TUF
Stipe Miocic is set to defend his heavyweight title against light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in a historic bout at UFC 226.
It will be the first time ever in the UFC that two current champions in different weight classes will serve as head coaches and also fight.
The UFC announced on Friday the pair will coach fighters for the upcoming season of TUF, which has been a stepping stone for the likes of Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson.
The 27th North American edition of the UFC is scheduled to exclusively feature a slate of undefeated featherweight and lightweight fighters with the finals penciled in for July 6 in Las Vegas.
Stipe Miocic is set to defend his heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier in a historic bout
Both Miocic and Cormier successfully defended their belts in Boston last weekend at the UFC 220 event.
Miocic defeated Francis Ngannou via unanimous decision in the main event, while Cormier beat Volkan Oezdemir via second-round TKO in the co-main to retain his belt.
Following the conclusion of the show UFC president Dana White immediately set the wheels in motion for the champion vs champion blockbuster fight.
Miocic defeated Francis Ngannou via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 220
The duo are scheduled to clash at UFC 226 on July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Miocic’s heavyweight title.
If Cormier were to win in their bout he would become just the second fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold two belts in different weight classes after Conor McGregor achieved the feat by beating Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.
He would also become the fifth fighter ever to be a two-weight UFC champion. White is also considering adding more champion vs champion fights to the same UFC 226 card with flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson vs. bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw in the pipeline.
Women’s featherweight champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino has also pitched the idea to White of facing women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes on July 7, as well.
Cormier beat Volkan Oezdemir via second-round TKO to retain his light heavyweight strap