UFC 226 Showdown: Miocic vs. Cormier – Odds, Forecast, and Betting Choice
"UFC 226 goes down in Las Vegas on July 7th! Stipe Miocic (18-2) defends his heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier (20-1). This historic bout could solidify the winner as UFC great. Want to place a bet, but unsure with the early odds? Let's break 'em down!
The champion Miocic has an impressive 3 consecutive title defenses under his belt! He combines solid kickboxing with wrestling, forcing foes to play his game. Being the bigger guy at 6'4 with a 80″ reach, Miocic often lands hard-hitting, short-range punches at a rate of 51% accuracy. It's no wonder 83% of his wins are by KO/TKO!
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Against Francis Ngannou at UFC 220, Miocic used his wrestling to dominate and take Ngannou deep into the rounds. However, with Cormier's formidable grappling skills, it could be a different story.
Cormier, a former Olympian, boasts a 42% takedown success rate, and an impressive striking game to boot! He uses his striking to set up takedown attempts. In fact, he even held the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title before joining the UFC, showing he's no slouch when it comes to heavyweights.
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STIPE MIOCIC (C)
While Cormier has faced heavyweights before, Miocic presents a stiffer challenge than anyone apart from Jon Jones. They both share similarities: high pace, various striking angles, powerful punches, and solid wrestling bases. That's exactly how Jones defeated Cormier twice.
-200
Several factors are pushing me towards Miocic – Cormier's age, wear on his body, weight fluctuations, and a questionable matchup style. He shut down talented light heavyweights (Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson), and this fight could go the distance. But overall, Miocic is proving to be a deserving favorite, especially considering his Jon Jones-like qualities and the better bet at this stage."
160
Fun Fact: Stipe Miocic broke the record for most consecutive title defenses in the heavyweight division at UFC 241, defeating Daniel Cormier for the second time. The two faced each other again at UFC 252, where Miocic defended his title yet again, making it his third successful title defense against Cormier.
DANIEL CORMIER
- The UFC 226 battle between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier takes place in Las Vegas on July 7th, with Miocic defending his heavyweight title.
- Miocic, having a 83% win record via KO/TKO, is a formidable opponent, standing at 6'4 with a reach of 80 inches and landing hard-hitting punches with 51% accuracy.
- Cormier, a former Olympian with a 42% takedown success rate and impressive striking game, could present a different challenge due to his formidable grappling skills.
- In the early odds for UFC 226, Miocic is the favorite with a -200 rating, with Cormier at 160.
- Facing each other again at UFC 252, Miocic managed to defend his title for a third time against Cormier, breaking the record for most consecutive title defenses in the heavyweight division.
