Five Rounds: Is Stipe Miocic the finest heavyweight in UFC history?
Our panel is here to break down the most important moments of UFC 241.
Is Stipe Miocic the greatest heavyweight inside the history of the UFC?
Ariel Helwani: these questions are usually difficult to reply on fight night. But, I lean towards yes for 2 reasons: He has the maximum identify defenses in UFC records, and he just beat who I considered to be the best heavyweight ever. Also, in case you did not recognize, Cormier became a super 15-0 as a heavyweight going into Saturday. In different phrases, that win changed into absolutely massive for Miocic. It become, in my view, his biggest to this point.
Brett Okamoto: yes, Stipe is the best heavyweight of all time, as of Saturday night time. His purpose was continually to be the best of his generation, and there could had been no coming returned had he lost to Daniel Cormier. That purpose could had been lifeless. But he introduced a overall performance for the ages in opposition to one of the best combatants of all time. Until there is a trilogy -- a situation that seems very doubtful to me proper now -- i'd say Stipe is the greatest heavyweight.
Jeff Wagenheim: if you had requested me this query early within the nighttime of July 7, 2018, i'd have stated sure. Miocic had defended the belt extra instances than all of us else, most currently dominating Francis Ngannou, the scariest KO artist this aspect of high Mike Tyson. Prior to that, he had KO'd a former champion (Andrei Arlovski), the reigning champ (Fabricio Werdum) and his first two challengers (ex-belt holders Alistair Overeem and Junior Dos Santos) -- all in the first round. But then, on that sick-fated night time remaining summer, Miocic went out and got KO'd inside the first round, and we needed to gradual our roll on GOAT speak.
On Saturday, although, he righted that inaccurate, and he did it in a way seldom seen from heavyweights. Whilst the large guys are being crushed to the punch inside the early going, it generally turns into an early night time. But Stipe endured via the great that Daniel Cormier should dish out, turned the tide in round 3 and came out for the fourth with a whole new plan of assault, which he implemented with poise and precision. That is excessive-level stuff, the sort of fighting you spot from most effective the greats.
Or, in this situation, the best.
Marc Raimondi: I do not suppose there's any way round that now. Miocic got here in already protecting the UFC document for consecutive heavyweight title defenses at 3. Now, he's a two-time champion with a TKO win over Daniel Cormier, one of the excellent combatants ever, on his résumé. If Miocic is not the finest heavyweight in UFC history, then who is? Cormier? Cain Velasquez? Miocic has the threshold over both, mainly now. At 36 years vintage, Miocic continues to be going strong too.
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Daniel Cormier was leading his combat with Stipe Miocic within the early rounds at UFC 241 but ultimately misplaced by means of fourth-spherical TKO. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC through Getty images
If this was it for Daniel Cormier, what is his legacy in the UFC?
Helwani: one of the greatest ever. Top 5. A dwelling legend. A combating champion. A person who were given knocked down again and again and observed a manner to conquer all of it in the direction of the cease of his career. I have the utmost recognize for Cormier. He in no way took a shortcut and represented the sport with dignity and class. He has nothing left to show to all and sundry. The hall of fame awaits.
Okamoto: Cormier's legacy is as one of the best combatants of all time. There have to constantly be a footnote connected to his profession that he got in overdue. Had Cormier started training in MMA and transitioned into MMA in advance than he did, I think there is a very strong threat that we'd name him the fine of all time. And he nevertheless had a top notch profession. Fifty years from now, we're going to still be speaking approximately the greatness of Daniel Cormier. This loss has no impact on that.
Wagenheim: Cormier is one of the greatest figures in the sport. As a fighter, he has beaten all of us he has faced other than Jon Jones, and there's disgrace in that only if you may locate disgrace in beating anyone in a single-on-one hoops except Michael Jordan. Speakme of greats, amongst Cormier's conquests is the best heavyweight ever to stroll the earth (despite the fact that Miocic evened the score on Saturday).
Past preventing, DC's legacy continues to be constructing. He is the most fun a number of the cageside analysts ("Thug Rose! Thug Rose!"), and keep in mind this: The three figures who spoil down athletes at the element display are Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning and Cormier. DC is not any interloper in that elite agency.
Raimondi: he's one of the pinnacle 3 MMA opponents who has ever lived. Because it stands now, I positioned Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre above him, but that's all. Cormier is a former UFC heavyweight and mild heavyweight champion. He has lost to handiest two men, Jones and Miocic. There may be no doubting his résumé. Simply as crucial is how amazing of an ambassador he's for the game. Cormier is an exceptional analyst on ESPN and is a credit score to MMA in each position the UFC puts him in outside the cage. The quality component is the latter would not ought to give up although he does grasp up the gloves.
After 3 years away, was that the Nate Diaz you anticipated to look?
Raimondi: truely? Truely not. In my mind, Diaz was a huge question after 3 years away. The closing time he had fought changed into 2016. Ronda Rousey had fought more lately than Diaz. Of route, we know what Diaz has usually added to the table, however it turned into impossible to see a dominating win over Pettis within the cards. Pettis is the sort of gifted striker and did have achievement at distance, to be truthful. Diaz become capable of grind him out in opposition to the cage, even though, and showed off some varied strategies in that role. If you instructed me we'd see considered one of Diaz's best profession performances right here, I in all likelihood could now not have believed it.
Okamoto: I assume Nate's right weight is welterweight. I notion it become usually going to be very, very difficult for him to go back to lightweight. I assume on this combat you noticed Nate as a real secure welterweight. He added electricity, but it appeared like he changed into nevertheless lean. I thought he fought smart. He neutralized a totally risky fighter in Anthony Pettis.
Nate's offense is continually the first issue to return to mind due to the fact that's what steals the display -- the "Stockton Slaps," the strikes and all of that. However he forced the form of fight that simply smothered a guy together with Pettis, who has approximately one thousand million ways to knock you out. He simply smothered him. It changed into extraordinarily magnificent. I don't know wherein Nate will move. I do not know how excessive his ceiling is at welterweight, however he legitimized himself as at least a risk in that division proper now.
Helwani: For the maximum component, sure. I thought Pettis changed into an excellent matchup for Diaz, and i anticipated him to be in shape and inspired for this fight. I used to be a tad amazed he got worn-out towards the stop of the combat, but that combat was fought at an awesome pace, and both men were given worn-out. I thought, overall, he fought an tremendous combat and seemed truely desirable. The fight sport is always more thrilling and thrilling while the Diaz brothers are thriving in it, so on behalf of quite a lot each person: Welcome back, Nathan Diaz.
Wagenheim: To (partly) quote a well-known orator, i'm no longer surprised. The Diaz game isn't a slave to timing as much as it is to toughness and cardio and smarts -- and he didn't lose any of these matters at some point of his layoff. Early on, Nate changed into getting clipped again and again by means of Anthony Pettis because the combat was contested at distance, so he confirmed his fight IQ by ultimate the gap and making it his form of fight. That sounds easy, however it takes longevity. You'll be hit coming in, and it takes strength to preserve up the relentlessness vital to empty your opponent of a fighting hazard.
The excellent pass of the night came after the combat, when Diaz called out Jorge Masvidal. What higher way to prevent any other three-year absence than to e book Nate in a fight that hobbies him (and interests Masvidal, the enthusiasts and the UFC bean-counters)?
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Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa's returned-and-forth brawl right away became a contender for fight of the yr. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC through Getty images
Costa vs. Romero: talk.
Okamoto: It was a exquisite combat, of route, and that i scored it 29-28 for Paulo Costa. It became one of those fights that would have long past both manner. I have constantly puzzled what might show up if Costa have been not able to simply march ahead, taking shots at the same time as delivering bigger ones. I wondered what might manifest when any individual ruined that sport plan for him.
Even a fighter as great as Yoel Romero couldn't do it. Costa put him up against the fence and harm him with pictures, and whilst Romero become effectively able to throw returned and back Costa off once in a while, this became still Costa one hundred and one. This changed into his recreation plan that he succeeded with in opposition to inferior opponents. This time he did it in opposition to one of the best middleweights we have visible in years, and it nevertheless worked. Costa is a valid No. 1 name contender.
Wagenheim: all at once, i'm a big fan of fouls. Who might have guessed? Costa's groin shot on Romero necessitated a pause inside the first spherical, giving each guy a brief break proper inside the center of a excessive-electricity 5 minutes. Romero's eye poke on Costa inside the 1/3 gave the sagging combatants another breather. It become top for the athletes and particularly exact for us, the fanatics. Whilst the motion resumed, the two middleweights sculpted out of granite went at it just like the masterpieces they are.
Costa wished a test like this. Sure, he got here in at 12-0 with the frightening difference of having scored stoppages in every certainly one of his fights. But a difficult-fought selection victory over Romero, No. 2 in ESPN's 185-pound rankings, is manner extra stunning than placing out the lighting on Uriah hall or a dwindled Johny Hendricks. This win vaults the 28-year-old Brazilian toward the pinnacle of the mountain.
Helwani: extremely good combat. The wait changed into really worth it. It changed into a hard combat to score. I concept Romero gained 29-28, but it became darn near. Both men took a few surely difficult shots and kept on coming. That become in all likelihood the end result the UFC brass desired deep down because now it units up Costa as opposed to the winner of Whittaker vs. Adesanya. A clean contender is ready in the wings.
Raimondi: Wow. I mean, what can you assert approximately this fight? If Jim Ross had been calling it, he might have described it as a slobberknocker. What is crazy approximately it's miles that we've got seen Costa and Romero fight others and placed them to sleep with a number of the shots they have been touchdown Saturday. Costa had never been to a selection earlier than in his profession. He had completed all people, but he couldn't end Romero. I certainly had Romero winning 29-28, however I can not be too torn up over a close combat that turned into exceptionally memorable. What a display those guys placed on, trading photographs, buying and selling scoffs. It turned into the whole thing you need to peer in an MMA scrap.
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Cory Sandhagen defeated Raphael Assuncao at UFC 241 and has won all five of his UFC bouts. Joe Scarnici/Getty photos
except the pinnacle 3 fights, who do you believe you studied took the largest breakthrough at UFC 241?
Wagenheim: Cory Sandhagen would possibly have generated greater buzz if he had scored a mind-blowing finish. However what he did turned into even higher than buzz: He confirmed that he belongs a few of the bantamweight contenders. For 15 mins, he flippantly picked aside Raphael Assuncao, who's No. Five in ESPN's bantamweight scores. Sandhagen gave the impression of he become the veteran in the Octagon while, in truth, he has been within the UFC handiest on account that remaining 12 months. It become telling whilst, in the middle of a fight he was controlling, his train become asked on the broadcast whether Cory became looking for the finish. The answer? "he's in no way seeking out the end. He's looking for what the fight brings."
that is the sort of coaching, and combating, to be able to make Sandhangen's run sustainable. He is 12-1 and a winner of seven straight, but his biggest moments are nevertheless ahead.
Honorable point out for huge splash of the night time has to visit the winner of the fight right after Sandhagen-Assuncao. Lightweight Khama worth made his UFC debut on 4 days' notice, as a +650 underdog, and TKO'd former schooling partner Devonte Smith for the largest UFC disappointed this 12 months. Love those kind of moments.
Helwani: Sodiq Yusuff. He became installed a massive spot on the principle card for a reason. He has gained 5 fights in a row, together with 3 in a row inside the UFC. He's a rising star and any other fighter from Nigeria doing nicely in recent times. I continue to be inspired by "great" Sodiq.
Raimondi: Cory Sandhagen is a real hassle at bantamweight. Raphael Assuncao is not often dominated the way he was Saturday. Sandhagen is a supremely gifted striker with the innate potential to exchange stances, flow inside and outside and land precisely. He is almost an up to date model of Dominick Cruz. The Colorado local does not have a ton of power, but Sandhagen is difficult to hit and is strong in every different place, which includes wrestling and grappling.
There are large fights ahead for him at a hundred thirty five pounds. And in case you don't believe my assessment, cross look at what his UFC friends were announcing approximately him on Twitter throughout the Assuncao. He become extremely extraordinary at UFC 241.
Okamoto: the 2 options come right down to Sandhagen and Yusuff. I idea both have been wonderful. I'm going with Sandhagen as well because of whom he fought. Raphael Assuncao is continually criminally underrated. He by no means receives the credit score he merits. It's extremely hard to appearance top towards him, which Sandhagen stated earlier than the fight.
It changed into a problem of his that Assuncao is rattling near impossible to appearance correct towards. And mainly in that first round, he appeared proper. He's a fun fighter to observe, but more importantly, his approach and fashion are so distinct that he's going to be a hard matchup for all and sundry in that division. I assume he have to be facing a person who's surprisingly ranked after this fight. I consider we will see Cory Sandhagen combat for a UFC championship in 2020.