S. Miocic (right) did not forgive J. Cigano (left) (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter UFC Brasil)
One of the most feared men in the world, the Utimate heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, showed his softer side at the post-UFC 211 press conference, when he defended his belt for the second time by knocking out junior gypsy still in the first round. When asked about having hesitated after landing the punch that knocked the Brazilian down, the Croatian-American admitted that he didn't want to hurt his opponent “unnecessarily”.
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The two fought previously, in December 2014, when Cigano won by decision, and Miocic recalled his first duel with the Brazilian when explaining his appreciation for his rival. The two praised each other before and after the rematch.
“I know I hit him with a good right hand and when he went down he wasn't moving. So I looked at the referee. But you know Dos Santos is very tough. Look what he did last time. We fought for 25 minutes and it was hell. I knew what the referee was doing. But he wasn't moving. I didn't want unnecessary damage. But it’s a fight and I know he would do the same to me”, explained Miocic.
The Croatian-American still credits the first fight between the two as giving him enough confidence to seek the world title. Since the defeat to Cigano, Miocic has won five straight, including triumphs over Fabricio Werdum e alistair overeem.
“I try not to think about that fight, because it was a terrible night. My eyes were closed, I needed 16 stitches in my lip. But I always end up thinking about her. I actually want to thank him, because without him, I wouldn't be here today. Cigano gave me the confidence I needed, the confidence that I could beat anyone in the world, that I could be world champion for a long time”, he concluded.
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