
Daniel Cormier really had no plans to fight Stipe Miocic.
Ahead of his last fight against Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220 in Boston, Cormier repeatedly said his days as a heavyweight were finished.
Cormier admitted that, while his time in the division was successful — he was 13-0 — it was more about not wanting to cut too much weight after a disastrous outing at the 2008 Olympics rather than a desire to compete at heavyweight that initially led him to the big boys' division.
Add to that, Cormier didn't want to come into conflict with his teammate and close friend Cain Velasquez, who is a former UFC heavyweight champion with designs on regaining that title once he returns to action later this year.
Source/more: https://www.flocombat.com/articles/...o-stipe-miocic-before-accepting-ufc-226-fight