UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has responded to UFC President Dana White who said the Croatian should be focusing on fighting and not on the coronavirus pandemic.
Miocic will be defending his belt against Daniel Cormier, but nobody knows when this bout will take plave because of the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I saw a quote from Stipe recently where Stipe said, ‘There’s bigger things going on in the world right now, fighting will be there forever.’ – it’s not true,” White said on the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “Fighting will not be here forever.
“When you’re a professional athlete, your window of opportunity is very small. So, hopefully we can get Stipe back in there soon with Cormier and get the heavyweight division rolling.”
In a separate interview with Barstool Sports, White went even further.
“I don’t think so, I think we’ll see a championship fight,” White replied to a question about whether Miocic staying on the sidelines would lead to an interim title fight.
But those comments didn’t sit well with thg champ who had this to say to his boss:
I want to fight DC. It’s going to happen period. Im going to give my fans what they want to see. My management has been working on dates with UFC. Right now I’m doing what the Governor DeWine is advising and am working as a first responder. I can’t control a global pandemic.
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) May 6, 2020
“I want to fight DC,” Miocic said. “It’s going to happen period. Im going to give my fans what they want to see. My management has been working on dates with UFC. Right now I’m doing what the Governor DeWine is advising and am working as a first responder. I can’t control a global pandemic.
“My head coach can’t open his gym by law right now. I don’t hold myself higher than any other person in regards to what I’m allowed to do. Ohio is under orders until May 29th. The second the gym can open, we begin camp. Plain and simple. I have never ducked anyone.
“I’ve never turned down a fight, and I never will. Strap #6 coming soon.”
Source: www.mmainsight.com
