The grudge match between Stipe and D.C. is set to go down on Saturday, Aug. 15 on pay-per-view (you’ll need an ESPN+ subscription in order to watch it) and is one of the most highly anticipated heavyweight bouts MMA’s ever seen.
Both fighters pack remarkable records, especially in this weight class, and they are 1-1 in their last two bouts against one another.
Stipe took Daniel into deep waters for their last fight and even though he was in trouble early, was able to come out on top, ending the fight and being the first man, other than Jon Jones, to hand Daniel Cormier an “L” on his record.
Daniel, in their first bout, was able to TKO Stipe early with short, sharp strikes in the clinch which he followed up with ground and pound.
Daniel then followed up his victory of Stipe with a win over Derrick Lewis, a result that many viewers at home saw as a foregone conclusion. D.C. was able to use his high level wrestling and in-and-out striking style to dictate the pace of the fight and put Lewis in trouble early.
Daniel, who’s been criticized for weight issues in the past, heavily focused on getting his cardio up so he can bring the fight to Stipe in the later rounds, even if the bout manages to go the distance.