So he did… and I don’t think we’re going to be hearing the end of it anytime soon.

Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier scored a spectacular 1st round KO of Stipe Miocic to add the UFC Heavyweight title to his Light Heavyweight crown. In today’s video I recap the highlights (and low lights) of UFC226.

Heavyweight potential realised

In many ways this fight was Daniel Cormier realising his potential as a heavyweight. Cormier has campaigned at Light Heavyweight for so long that it is easy to forget that Cormier started off as a Heavyweight. Not only was he undefeated but he was the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion having entered the tournament as an alternate. Cormier had been riding rough-shot over Heavyweights. He defeated the likes of Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, Josh Barnett, Frank Mir and Roy Nelson during his first spell in the division.

His rise in the UFC was curtailed by his reluctance to compete in the same division as his good friend and teammate Cain Velasquez, who was Heavyweight Champion at the time Cormier made a move to Light Heavyweight.

Light Heavyweight Don

It was at Light Heavyweight that Cormier would meet his nemesis, Jon Jones. The long running Light Heavyweight Champion and only man to defeat Cormier. When Jones was stripped of his title, Cormier defeated Anthony Rumble Johnson to capture the strap. Aside from Jones, Cormier has defeated the other elite contenders at Light Heavyweight, namely Rumble Johnson (twice) and Alexander Gustafsson by split decision.

King of the Hill

However beating Stipe Miocic for the Heavyweight title will go down as his crowning glory. And it appears Cormier is already lining up his retire having earmarked fights against Maurício Shogun Rua (at Light Heavyweight) and Brock Lesnar (at Heavyweight) as the fights he wants before retiring next year.

The GOAT?

If Cormier gets his wish (and wins those fights), who will deny him a mention in the Greatest Of All Time debate?

A two weight UFC Champion, with a win over the greatest Heavyweight of all time (Miocic) and the greatest Middleweight of all time (Anderson Silva), as well as two victories over the scariest Light Heavyweight ever (Rumble Johnson). Even his defeat (or defeats) to Jon Jones come with an asterisks due to Jones failed drug tests.

It would be churlish to argue that Jones didn’t legitimately beat Cormier once (if not twice) however Jon Jones is the absolute top of the food chain and Cormier can argue that he fought Jones outside of Cormier’s natural weight-class, heavyweight.

Either way, Cormier took on a fight (against Miocic) that Jones publicly shirked and won it. It is a moment that ranks up there with anything that Jones or any other UFC fighter has achieved.

Greatest match that never was

For a while now, MMA fans have been teased with the prospect of Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis facing off. On paper, this was one of the most exciting matchups the UFC could make. Both heavy handed dangerous strikers that love to enforce their will onto opponents. However fights are not fought on paper. Unfortunately for us on this occasion.

This turned into one of the worse fights ever to feature of a main card. Both fighters were reluctant to engage, looking instead to counter which lead to minute after minute of inactivity.

It was the perfect storm of what could go wrong; Lewis back issues were playing up and Ngannou was gun-shy following the mauling he suffered at the hands of Miocic.

It was a very disappointing affair.

We can only hope these two fighters show us what they are really about in their next outings.

Life of Brian

The last thing I want to touch on is the treatment of Brian Ortega. Ortega was due to challenge Featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC226 until Holloway pulled out due to possible Water poisoning. All sympathies are will Max. However Ortega appears to be getting no love after refusing to fight a late replacement, in Jeremy Stephens.

While it is admirable that some fighters take short notice fights, it is understand why some would refuse, particularly at the Championship level.

It’s equally understandable that a promoter like Dana White’s primary concern is putting on the best show possible for the fans. However 3 days notice is no time to gameplan for an elite opponent, let alone manage the disappoint of not getting a shot at the champion.

Dana White made no attempt to hide his dismay at Ortega refusing the fight. However this to me seems short-sighted. Ortega has the potential to be a marquee draw in the UFC. A good-looking Mexican fighter with the ability to win a fight on the feet and on the ground. He could easily be the MMA Canelo if marketed and handled right.

Ortega isn't a bad egg either. He has in the past rolled the dice, and took on late notice fights for the UFC. However on this occasion he said no which he was clearly entitled to do, so I don’t see a problem.

If the UFC really want fighters to take late notice fights the solution is simple. Put it in their contracts. The likely reason they don’t is because it would not be acceptable to most. In that case, don’t make a fall guy of those fighters that refuse late notice fights against new opponents!

Hype train continues

All in all it was a great card that leaves a number of great possibilities open, particularly in the heavyweight division. With UFC events like this, it is very easy to see what all the fuss and hype is about!