Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier Tips & Fight Predictions - bettingexpert
Cormier has been very upfront about this being his final fight, whereas Stipe has made no indication of this being his last octagon walk. Here we preview this amazing heavyweight bout, between two of the greatest UFC heavyweights of all time. Cormier and Miocic will collide for the third and final time.
Daniel Cormier
Age: 41 | Height: 5’11” (180 cm) | Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg) | Reach: 72”
Wins: 10 KO’s, 5 SUB’s, DEC’s | Losses: 1 KO, 1 DEC
Pro record: 22-2 | UFC record: 11-1-0-(1 NC)
Recent fights:
| LOSS | Stipe Miocic | UFC 241 Aug / 17 / 2019 |
TKO (Punches) | Rd 4 | Time: 4:09 |
| WIN | Derrick Lewis | UFC 230 Nov / 03 / 2018 |
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Rd 2 | Time: 2:14 |
| WIN | Stipe Miocic | UFC 226 Jul / 07 / 2018 |
KO (Punches) | Rd 1 | Time: 4:33 |
| WIN | Volkan Oezdemir | UFC 220 Jan / 20 / 2018 |
TKO (Punches) | Rd 2 | Time: 2:00 |
| NC | Jon Jones | UFC 214 Jul / 29 / 2017 |
No Contest (Overturned) | Rd 3 | Time: 3:01 |
Fighting style:
Cormier is the perfect mix between wrestler and striker. He originally comes from a wrestling background, but has evolved his boxing to a very high level. He still goes back to his roots when he finishes his fights, using takedowns to his advantage. However, don’t think that Cormier can’t sleep you with one punch, because that’s exactly what he can. A powerhouse in every way and one of the greatest wrestler in MMA of all time, is Daniel Cormier.
Bio
Daniel “DC” Cormier (22-2-0, 1NC) is a legend in the sport of mixed martial arts. He was one of the first big champions back when Strikeforce was still around and he continued his reign in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, only losing to Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Cormier is a wrestler and averages about 2 takedowns every 15 minutes. Cormier is short for a heavyweight, at only 5’11”, but he makes up for his size disadvantage with technique. He is used to fighting bigger guys in terms of height and reach, and almost always manages to find a way to get on the inside and dirty box his opponents to victory. If his striking doesn’t hold up, DC relies on his high-level wrestling to help him out. He has a takedown accuracy of 44% and a takedown defense of 77%. On the feet, he lands 4.25 strikes while absorbing 2.75 every minute, on average. Cormier has a tight striking defense and defends himself against 56% of strikes thrown at him. He usually uses awkward head movement to avoid being hit by power punchers such as Miocic.
Stipe Miocic
Age: 37 | Height: 6’4” (193 cm) | Weight: 245 lbs (111 kg) | Reach: 80”
Wins: 15 KO’s, 4 DEC’s | Losses: 2 KO’s, 1 DEC
Pro record: 19-3 | UFC record: 13-3
Recent fights:
| WIN | Daniel Cormier | UFC 241 Aug / 17 / 2019 |
TKO (Punches) | Rd 4 | Time: 4:09 |
| LOSS | Daniel Cormier | UFC 226 Jul / 07 / 2018 |
KO (Punches) | Rd 1 | Time: 4:33 |
| WIN | Francis Ngannou | UFC 220 Jan / 20 / 2018 |
Decision (Unanimous) | Rd 5 | Time: 5:00 |
| WIN | Junior dos Santos | UFC 211 May / 13 / 2017 |
TKO (Punches) | Rd 1 | Time: 2:22 |
| WIN | Alistair Overeem | UFC 203 Sep / 10 / 2016 |
KO (Punches) | Rd 1 | Time: 4:27 |
Fighting style
Stipe Miocic is one of the most dangerous strikers the UFC’s heavyweight division has ever seen. But unlike fighters like Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, Miocic takes a more technical approach to striking. Sure, he has lots of power, but he relies on footwork and positioning to find openings that put his opponents’ lights out. Stipe is also a decent wrestler, and can handle himself on the ground, but striking will always be his claim to fame.
Bio
Stipe Miocic (19-3) successfully retained his heavyweight title the last time we saw him compete. In a fight against Daniel Cormier that he was losing, he managed to adjust his gameplan and win the fight in round 4. Miocic is 6 feet 4 inches tall with a reach of 80 inches. Primarily a striker, Miocic lands about 5 strikes every minute while absorbing 3.69 on average. Stipe can wrestle too, however, and usually gets his opponent to the ground twice every 15 minutes. If his opponent tries to shoot for his legs, Stipe defends himself 73% of the time from takedowns. Miocic has a striking defense of 56% and an accuracy of 52%.
Miocic joined the UFC in October of 2011 and went on a three-fight win streak before being knocked out by Stefan Struve. Miocic would take about a year off before jumping back in the octagon against Roy Nelson, a fight he would win decisively. Stipe would then win his next two fights until facing Junior Dos Santos, fellow heavyweight prospect. Their fight would be a grueling slugfest, but in the end, Santos would walk away as the victor.
Once again, Miocic showed his championship mindset as he bounced back from defeat, for the second time, with 6 consecutive wins, getting his hands on the belt in the process and breaking the record for most title defenses in heavyweight history. Stipe’s win streak would be snapped by Cormier in their first bout, but he would retain his title in the rematch which went down in August of 2019. An incredibly dangerous striker, you do not want to get too comfortable against Stipe Miocic or you’ll have a quick night.
4.25 Strikes Landed/min. | 4.95 Strikes Landed/min.
52% Striking Accuracy | 52% Striking Accuracy
Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier Betting Tips
Currently, a pick’em fight with bookies, Miocic and Cormier are evenly priced for their rubber match. Judging from their two fights, it’s clear that Cormier dictated the battle both times, except for the fourth round where the tables would turn. In that fourth round, Miocic found some striking success and eventually finished Cormier with a beautiful one-two combination.
Stipe’s body shots will still be an issue that Cormier must be working on to defend, but what does Stipe really have to work on? Sure, he can work on his wrestling and striking as he would for any fight, but we did see Stipe getting manhandled for the majority of the first three rounds on the canvas and on the feet. Stipe was outstruck by Cormier in both of their fights, and he might need a finish to get the win here. Betting on a guy who needs a finish to win is rarely smart, meanwhile, we have DC who can win a decision.
We could see a wrestling-oriented Cormier who looks for early takedowns to get ahead on the scorecards, which could be enough to give him this fight.
In a pick’em fight, I like Cormier.
2.20 Takedowns Avg./15 min. | 1.95 Takedowns Avg./15 min.
44% Takedown Accuracy | 37% Takedown Accuracy
Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier Fight Predictions
While Stipe is a great champion, I’m leaning towards Daniel Cormier here. In the first fight, Cormier and his team had prepared specifically for Stipe and spoke about his tendency to drop his hands when he disengaged from the clinch. Cormier capitalized on that and earned the first-round victory. In the second fight, things were going Daniel’s way but he got sloppy in the later rounds, and Stipe was able to incorporate body shots on the feet to put DC away.
So what’s different in this fight? Well, Stipe know he can hurt DC to the body, but nothing is changed about Cormier’s wrestling advantage. Due to Daniel’s awkward and effective head movement, Stipe also had trouble finding the chin of DC in both fights.
I see Cormier working the takedowns early and surviving for five rounds to earn a unanimous decision here.
Prediction: Daniel Cormier (1.90) via unanimous decision.
MORE FROM ADAM ON BETTINGEXPERT
- UFC 252 Predictions Series Stars here!
- Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje Tips & Fight Predictions right here.
