UFC 252 results: Stipe Miocic outpoints retiring Daniel Cormier to retain heavyweight title in main-event war

Trilogy bout went the distance at UFC’s Apex institute as champion won 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 on the judges’ scorecards

Stipe Miocic defeated Daniel Cormier via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 252 on Saturday night to retain his heavyweight title.

Miocic and Cormier fought over the championship for the third time in as many summers as the latter entered the Octagon for the final time as a mixed martial artist, and the spoils went to the defending champion, who made it back-to-back wins over his rival.

Many questioned what role the smaller Octagon at UFC’s Apex institute would play: Would it augment Cormier’s Olympic wrestling capabilities or lead to a slugfest in Las Vegas?

The answer was somewhere in between, as both men traded on the feet over the course of five rounds, frequently finding homes for straights and hooks, while there was plenty of grappling against the fence as well.

It was Miocic who controlled those grappling exchanges, however, working his way to a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 48-47).

Stipe Miocic retains his UFC heavyweight title over Daniel Cormier in the latter’s last fight (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

In a back-and-forth fight, the standout moment saw Miocic drop Cormier late in the second round before raining down heavy strikes on his challenger, who welcomed the buzzer.

Before that, there was a brief pause in the action as referee Marc Goddard saw Cormier accidentally poke Miocic in the eye – something the former heavyweight and light heavyweight dual-champ did in each of his previous bouts against Miocic.

It was to be an eye for an eye, though, with Cormier later complaining that his fellow American had done the same thing, an accusation that was vindicated by replays.

The truth is, however, that Cormier’s left eye was already beginning to shut due to the damage Miocic was inflicting with closed fists, and this accumulation gave the champion the belief and ability to finish strong, crucially clinching the fifth and final round to ensure he left Las Vegas with the UFC heavyweight title still firmly wrapped around his waist.

With that gold still in place, Miocic remains ‘the baddest man on the planet’, and the performance and result might well have also been enough to secure his status as the greatest heavyweight the UFC – if not MMA – has ever seen.

And what of Cormier? ‘DC’ leaves the sport as a surefire hall of famer, a two-time light heavyweight titleholder, one time heavyweight champion and one of the few people in UFC history to hold two belts in different weight classes at the same time.

Cormier (left) and Miocic fought in a five-round war (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

It is so rare to go out on top in combat sports, but Cormier – a true role model – can leave with his head held high and continue in his recent role as one of the most insightful commentators the UFC has on their books.

Miocic, meanwhile, will return home to rest, knowing that another defence against the brutal Francis Ngannou and his hellish knockout power likely awaits.

While his belt and tag as the baddest man on the planet will be difficult to retain whenever that day comes, his place in MMA history is assured – as is Daniel Cormier’s.