July 16, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Daniel Cormier/Brock Lesnar fallout from UFC 226

After 23 years of competing at the highest level in the world at two different sports, Daniel Cormier, just eight months before his 40th birthday and planned retirement, finally achieved his ultimate dream.

Cormier, saying he was fighting for legacy, became only the second simultaneous two division champion in UFC history, joining Conor McGregor. But his UFC heavyweight title win over Stipe Miocic on 7/7 in Las Vegas was far more than that.

Cormier went from a guy who said he finally achieved his “best-in-the-world” goal when he first won the light heavyweight title, only for his entire three year reign be marred by the fact he failed twice against Jon Jones, who the public saw as the real champion.

But not this time. Stipe Miocic was the real champion, with no debate attached. He overwhelmed Francis Ngannou and stopped Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem and Junior Dos Santos, basically everyone in the division of any note except the frequently injured Cain Velasquez.

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