UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic set the consecutive title defense record last weekend when he defeated Francis Ngannou via unanimous decision to earn his third straight defense. On the same night, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier vanquished Volkan Oezdemir via second round TKO, which was also his third title defense.
After the bout, UFC President Dana White announced Miocic would battle Cormier for the UFC Heavyweight Title.
The heavyweight division is no stranger to Cormier (20-1, 1 no contest), he won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as an alternate by knocking out Antonio Silva and then earning a one-sided unanimous decision against Josh Barnatt. He also began his UFC career by going 2-0 inside the Octagon with victories over Frank Mir and Roy Nelson before dropping down to 205 pounds.
Miocic (18-2) has now won six consecutive bouts, earning victories over former champions Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski and Junior dos Santos along the way.
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the lines for the champion vs champion bout late last week via Several Bookmakers.
Early action has come in on Miocic, pushing him to a 2 to 1 favorite.
———————————————————–
UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier
T-Mobile Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday – July 7, 2018
Daniel Cormier +125
Stipe Miocic -155
Over 3.5 -150
Under 3.5 +110
