LAS VEGAS — Daniel Cormier's lowest moment came when he was knocked out by arch nemesis Jon Jones at UFC 214. One year later, Cormier reached the pinnacle by adding the UFC heavyweight title on the very waist that the light heavyweight title resides, courtesy of a first-round knockout of Stipe Miocic in their highly anticipated showdown at UFC 226.
That wasn't the only highlight.
After taking the microphone for his postfight interview, Cormier cut a promo on former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar, who was seated cageside. Cormier invited Lesnar into the Octagon and Lesnar promptly shoved Cormier as a mild fracas ensued. The two exchanged words before Lesnar grabbed the microphone and formally called out the new heavyweight champion.
DC calls out Brock Lesnar!
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2018
LESNAR IS IN THE CAGE!! #UFC226 pic.twitter.com/XTz7q16GJo
UFC 226 LIVE BLOG: Results, highlights from all the fights
If the UFC wanted sports entertainment, it has it now.
What took place before the episode that will surely be part of WWE's promotional packaging was a bit of history by Cormier against the man who had been widely recognized as the greatest heavyweight in UFC history.
Miocic set the record for consecutive title defenses when he defeated Francis Ngannou in January and had seemingly run out of opponents until Cormier decided to move back to the division where he started his mixed martial arts career. Cormier hadn’t competed as a heavyweight in more than four years but decided to jump up in weight to challenge Miocic at UFC 226.
The move proved to be well worth the risk.
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Cormier was expected to use his highly acclaimed wrestling ability to neutralize Miocic’s lauded striking. Instead, Cormier’s striking made the difference and ultimately earned him the distinction of being a two-division champion.
Cormier started out quickly and used a snapping jab to keep Miocic on the outside. Surprisingly, Miocic was the one looking to close the gap and clinched with Cormier along the cage. Unable to keep the Olympic alternate wrestler down, Miocic backed off and looked to sett;e in with his striking. Cormier, though, was comfortable exchanging and repeatedly beat the champion to the punch. With a welt forming under Miocic’s right eye, Cormier continued to press forward and attack with a mixture of jabs and leg kicks.
With less than a minute left in the round, Cormier uncorked a short right hook that caught Miocic flush. The heavyweight champion crumbled and Cormier followed him to the canvas with some vicious ground and pound until the fight was called to a halt at 4:33 of the first.
Then the circus began.
Cormier asked that Lesnar enter the Octagon, and the current WWE Universal champion obliged. Lesnar made a beeline toward Cormier and shoved him across the cage, to which Cormier responded, "Push me now, go to sleep later." The spectacle was capped off by Lesnar interviewing with Joe Rogan and turning into the heel that has been nothing but dollar signs in both the WWE and UFC.
After trashing Miocic and the rest of the heavyweight division, Lesnar made it clear what his intentions were.
"DC, I'm coming for you, motherf—er!"
