Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (19-3, 15 KOs) meets arch rival Daniel Cormier (22-2, 10 KOs, 5 SUBs) in a trilogy match headlining UFC 252 on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Check out UFC 252 odds and UFC 252 Picks.
- Date & Time
- August 15th, 2020
- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (19-3, 15 KOs) meets arch rival Daniel Cormier (22-2, 10 KOs, 5 SUBs) in a trilogy match headlining UFC 252 on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Catch the main card action live on pay-per-view starting 10 pm ET. The card features awesome matchups and intriguing fighters like former champion Junior Dos Santos, undefeated blue chip prospect Sean O’Malley and brawler Ion “Hulk” Cutelaba. Let’s dive deeper into an intriguing main event and break down your best betting picks. The UFC odds at our top-rated online sportsbooks opened with Miocic as a slight -105 underdog, with DC the favorite at -125.
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Stipe Miocic (19-3, 15 KOs)
Give Miocic some credit: though he was knocked out in less than one round the first time he and DC squared off, the Cleveland native came back and scored a TKO of his own in the rematch. It was a match he waited over a year for, refusing to fight anyone else and telling everybody that would listen that he was a better fighter than DC. Though he was likely behind after three close rounds, Miocic started the fourth round landing body shot after body shot, eventually leading to a TKO finish. It was a thrilling, dramatic end to the fight - plus it’s always kinda fun seeing a pudgy dude get punched in the belly.
Can Miocic come out on top this time around? One big advantage he has is size: the 37 year old is nearly a half foot taller than his opponent, and it makes a difference. He’s also a good athlete for his size, and his collegiate wrestling experience makes him really tough to take down. That’s important, as DC does his best work when he can confidently take fights to the mat - he doesn’t have that luxury against Mioicic. Throw in a Golden Gloves boxing background and you’re looking at one of the most well-rounded heavyweights on the roster.
After two battles, nothing will surprise Miocic at this point. He proved that he can win a battle of attrition against a grinder, but he’s also gotten his chin checked as well. This is about as even as it gets.
Daniel Cormier (22-2, 10 KOs, 5 SUBs)
For a year, DC had to listen to Miocic say that he was the better fighter, over and over again. The tables have turned: now it’s DC swearing that he knows he’s better than Miocic, that he shouldn’t have lost, and how he’ll prove it in the trilogy match. In fact, the former champ swears that beating Miocic is more important than winning the belt - which is funny because Miocic said the exact same thing. This fight is deeply personal, and we’re totally on board.
There is some serious speculation that DC will retire after this fight, win or lose. Retiring after a win would be the most gangster way to leave the sport. A loss would push the AKA captain down the ladder at 41 years old - not an age where it’s easy to fight your way back into contention. DC is barely a heavyweight at 5’11”. Nobody wants to see him keep banging with giants. When he does walk away, Cormier will be unquestionably a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Cormier has rolled with the same gameplan in each fight: walk down Miocic and make thigns ugly. That led to clinching and short combinations. DC might have dadbod, but he knows how to throw every pound of his weight and his some very fast hands. It’s a strategy that’s proven effective against Miocic.
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Miocic 4.95 / Cormier 4.42
Striking accuracy: Miocic 52% / Cormier 54%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Miocic 3.69 / Cormier 3.95
Striking defense: Miocic 56% / Cormier 56%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Miocic 2.2 / Cormier 1.81
Takedown accuracy: Miocic 37% / Cormier 45%
Takedown defense: Miocic 73% / Cormier 77%
Submission average: Miocic 0 / Cormier 0.66
UFC Odds Pick: Miocic to win at -101
This is truly a tossup fight - we’ve seen a quick ending, a trench war, and each man walking away the winner. We’re picking Miocic to defend. He is bigger, younger and a more potent knockout threat. That’s enough for us to lay down a solid bet at this price.
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