DC vs ego

Daniel Cormier (DC) recently put his heavyweight title on the line against the former champ, Stipe Miocic. When watching the fight, all I could see was DC losing to his ego – he had all the tools to win that fight, but his ego got in the way.

In the first round, both men were standing and trading until DC picked up and slammed Miocic from a single leg. Once Miocic was down, DC kept him there; he didn’t do much damage but the he was dominant. The second round saw Cormier find success with his striking and as strange as it sounds, it was the beginning of the end for Cormier. They both hurt each other with strikes and DC decided that it would be a good idea to drop his hands (for whatever reason). In the third, Miocic started winning the striking exchanges, thanks in part to DC keeping his hands down. Then between the rounds, DC’s corner was heard telling him to “keep your damn hands up.” DC, however, didn’t listen. DC was using his method of pawing out to Miocic’s hands and throwing arm punches when he sees a gap (arm punches don’t involve any hip or shoulder rotation behind the punch). I was watching the fight by myself and said out loud “why don’t you go to the body” (DC’s elbows were so high that his body was a wide-open target). Then, Miocic did – hestarted ripping to the body with the left hook, which in my opinion is the best punch in the business. Miocic was getting success with the shot. The first few didn’t seem to bother DC but then his elbow started dropping, he began flinching and most significantly, he stepped to his left. When landing liver shots and your opponent steps either left or back,they’re trying to step away from the pain. Once they’redoing that, it spells big trouble for them. Miocic was very clinical – once the body shots were having effect and DC’s elbow was dropping, Miocic threw a straight right that landed, then followed up with another. This put DC against the fence and Miocic continued with the punches to finish the fight. 

After reading my thoughts, you might think that it was the body shots that caused DC’s downfall in that fight. I would however, dispute that. This may seem odd as it was the body shots that set up the finish – but the outcome of the fight was decided before those body shots. DC is an elite wrestler,competing for the US Olympic team; he somehow seemed to forget this. When fighting at heavyweight, DC carries some extra weight around the middle and is short for the division. DC is arguably the best wrestler in the current heavyweight division (although Brock Lesnar would be an interesting challenge but who knows what that guy is doing). The best way for DC to win a fight at heavyweight is to take people down and wear them out, apply ground and pound them and/or submit them. This makes sense for a couple of reasons. Firstly, as mentioned, he is the best wrestler in the division, so he has the skill to take them down and control them. Secondly, he is almost always going to be the shorter fighter and striking against people with a longer reach is not the smartest thing to do. Especially at heavyweight where everyone has knockout power. Therefore, the smart thing to do is to take them down where their power and reach do not matter.

This is why I think ego is what defeated DC against Miocic. The only way Miocic could win that fight was through striking. Miocic could not out wrestle DC, as was demonstrated in round 1 – when DC took it to the mat,Miocic had no answer. Instead of continuing with this method, DC thought, “I will stand with him, drop my hands and win that way.” Why not? DC knocked him out with punches in the first fight so surely it would work again. DC had success with his punches which would make the takedowns even easier, but he dropped his hands and stood right in front of the taller fighter and played his opponents game. If before the fight someone told Miocic that DC will stand and strike with you with his hands down, Miocic would’ve thought all his dreams came true. If you’refighting someone and you have the ability to keep the fight away from their strength, why would you not use your skills to keep the fight in your advantage rather than theirs.

I am no stranger to ego – injuries and losses have been caused by ego. In training, when you have someone better and you want to challenge yourself at their strength then why the hell not. But if you are fighting for the UFC heavyweight title and you have the skills to win the fight but decide to take the fight in the one place that your opponent can win then DC, your ego lost that title for you, not your skills.

 Gareth Lewis

Head MMA Instructor