Combating Cormier within the clinch may spell doom for Miocic at UFC 241
UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will put his title on the road towards Stipe Miocic in the primary occasion of UFC 241.
Going into their first struggle at UFC 226, Miocic appeared to have the benefit in a wide range of statistical classes, and that is the case as soon as once more. On that evening Cormier stopped Miocic within the first spherical and claimed the heavyweight belt. Will historical past repeat itself on Saturday, or will Miocic stay as much as his statistical prowess and take again his title?
Putting differential
The primary struggle at UFC 226 actually showcased the place each fighters are robust within the hanging sport. Early within the struggle, Miocic used his size and attain to land at vary. Because the struggle went on, Cormier started to take management by closing the space and hanging in shut vary. He finally caught Miocic with an enormous shot as they separated from a clinch and completed the struggle. Will Cormier have the ability to handle the space and rating with energy as soon as once more, or will Miocic have the ability to hold the struggle on the surface within the rematch?
UFC 241 encompasses a heavyweight championship rematch and the return of some of the standard stars within the UFC. Daniel Cormier will defend his title towards Stipe Miocic, and Nate Diaz fights for the primary time in three years, taking up Anthony Pettis. Order UFC 241 now
UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2
• Saturday, Anaheim, California
• Early prelims: ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET
• Prelims: ESPN, eight p.m. ET
• Primary card: ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET
UFC 241 Content material:
• 24 hours within the firehouse with Stipe Miocic
• Breaking down Cormier-Miocic II
Order UFC 241 now
For his UFC profession, Miocic has landed four.76 vital strikes per minute, which is the fourth-best charge amongst ranked heavyweights. Because of that offensive quantity, he is been capable of keep a robust hanging differential regardless of being quite hittable. Though he has allowed his opponent to land 2.96 vital strikes per minute towards him, his +1.eight hanging differential is third greatest amongst ranked heavyweights.
Cormier lags nicely behind Miocic when it comes to touchdown strikes, however he’s barely higher in relation to protection. He has landed solely three.84 vital strikes per minute, whereas permitting his opponents to land solely 2.46 vital strikes throughout his UFC/Strikeforce profession. Regardless of the decrease offensive output, his +1.38 hanging differential is above common for a ranked heavyweight (+1.12). Whereas that may be a respectable quantity, it doesn’t inform the entire story. The one fighter to flee defeat towards Cormier within the UFC and Strikeforce has been Jon Jones. Cormier’s two tough outings towards the sunshine heavyweight champion have severely impacted his hanging numbers; excluding these two fights, Cormier’s hanging differential rises to +1.98.
Putting accuracy/Putting protection
Though he is more practical within the clinch, Daniel Cormier confirmed throughout his first struggle with Stipe Miocic that he is able to hanging at distance. Sam Wasson/Getty Pictures
Each fighters come from a wrestling background, however each have additionally developed into high quality strikers. Miocic has landed 51% of his vital strike makes an attempt, which is at the moment fourth greatest amongst ranked heavyweights. Cormier isn’t very far behind at 49%. Whereas these numbers are comparable, there may be some divergence when drilling down into the numbers.
Cormier’s success when it comes to accuracy depends closely upon his work within the clinch. In that place, he lands 70% of his vital strike makes an attempt. At distance, he lands solely 39% of his makes an attempt. Miocic is way more correct at distance, the place he lands 45% of his makes an attempt.
Throughout his UFC/Strikeforce profession Cormier has spent a whole lot of time combating within the clinch. His wrestling background permits him to carry place and land strikes from a positive space; 24% of his whole landed vital strikes have come within the clinch.
Miocic has been way more targeted on hanging at a distance. Within the UFC, 66% of his landed vital strikes have been at distance. His potential to retain spectacular accuracy whereas hanging at vary is a testomony to his improvement as a striker. Miocic has additionally confirmed to be powerful to hit at distance, the place he efficiently avoids 64% of his opponents’ makes an attempt.
Regardless of these tendencies, the primary struggle didn’t actually observe the script. When the fighters went to the clinch, Miocic was the one who gave the impression to be the one holding place, and he scored a momentary takedown alongside the cage. Whereas the then-champion regarded good working from distance early, Cormier ended up touchdown 61% of his distance strikes in comparison with solely 45% for Miocic. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the accuracy numbers for each fighters revert to the profession norms, or if it can in the end be a repeat of the UFC 226 match.
Putting energy
1:04
Have a look again to UFC 226, when Daniel Cormier beat Stipe Miocic to win the heavyweight title. Watch the rematch at UFC 241 right here on ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv.
Cormier defeating Miocic was not likely a surprising outcome. On the time, he was already the sunshine heavyweight champion and had already defeated a few of the greatest heavyweights of this technology. Nevertheless, many have been shocked that Cormier was capable of end the struggle with strikes. For all of his accolades, the heavyweight champion has by no means actually been an influence striker. The end was solely his third stoppage on account of strikes within the UFC. The knockdown that put Miocic on the ground was his first knockdown since 2014.
For his UFC/Strikeforce profession, Cormier has averaged solely zero.31 knockdowns per 15 minutes of struggle time. He has stopped eight whole fights with strikes and averaged 116.25 landed vital strikes per KO/TKO.
By all metrics, Miocic appears to be the extra highly effective striker. He has averaged zero.5 knockdowns per 15 minutes of struggle time and 90 vital strikes per KO/TKO. Nevertheless, the profession energy hanging numbers favored Miocic heading into the primary bout as nicely, and Cormier left the cage with the stoppage victory.
Takedowns
Wrestling didn’t actually play an element of their first encounter. Miocic scored an early takedown from the clinch, however Cormier bounced again to his ft virtually instantly. Few anticipated Miocic to have any wrestling success towards the two-time Olympian, and but, after early success he didn’t try one other takedown for the remainder of the struggle.
Takedowns are a vital ingredient of Miocic’s model. He lands solely 38% of his takedown makes an attempt, however he makes an attempt 6.25 per 15 minutes of struggle time. The previous Cleveland State wrestler has tried a minimum of seven takedowns in 5 of his 15 UFC fights. As a consequence of this quantity, he is ready to land the fourth-most takedowns per 15 minutes amongst ranked heavyweights (2.38).
Cormier’s offensive takedown numbers are fairly comparable. He makes an attempt fewer takedowns, however lands them with a bit extra accuracy. Over the course of his UFC/Strikeforce profession, he has tried four.52 takedowns per 15 minutes and landed 45% of these makes an attempt for a 2.04 takedown charge.
Regardless of Cormier’s wrestling pedigree, the reigning heavyweight champion has allowed seven takedowns in his previous 9 fights. Miocic might be able to bridge the wrestling expertise and ability hole along with his measurement benefit and put Cormier on the ground. If he is ready to work from the highest, it may power Cormier to work from an unfamiliar place — however this might transform a dangerous technique. Miocic has seemingly run out of fuel in a number of of his fights, and if he seems to be to wrestle early within the bout, he could possibly be depleted if the struggle finally ends up going into the championship rounds.