UFC's White: Lesnar retiring, so Cormier to face Miocic again
Saying that former champion Brock Lesnar has "told me he's done" with mixed martial arts, UFC president Dana White told ESPN on Tuesday that he has a different opponent in mind for reigning champion Daniel Cormier.
The 40-year-old Cormier (22-1), who defeated then-champion Stipe Miocic last July in UFC 226 to seize the heavyweight belt, will give Miocic (18-3) a rematch.
Indications pointed to a possible Lesnar-Cormier matchup immediately after Cormier's win, with Lesnar entering the Octagon to confront Cormier just after the fight, which ended in a knockout.
White made no secret of his desire for the matchup, and Lesnar, a 41-year-old former WWE star, took part in UFC's mandatory anti-doping program.
Earlier in April, however, Lesnar said at a celebrity dinner and auction in Saskatchewan, Canada, that he had not reached a decision on taking the matchup with Cormier.
White told ESPN that Lesnar made clear last week that he's retiring.
"He told me he's done, he's retired," White said. "We're going to move in another direction with Cormier."
Cormier also talked about retiring MMA as recently as this month, though he has put off that decision. Miocic, 36, has made a point on social media of accusing Cormier of avoiding a rematch.
--Field Level Media
