Stipe Miocic (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Stipe Miocic absorbed plenty of hard shots from Daniel Cormier in the first three rounds of their bout at UFC 241. But, the now, two-time heavyweight champ says he knew Cormier was in trouble when round four began.

Cormier slammed Miocic to the floor early in the fight, and appeared to win many of the striking exchanges during the bout’s opening rounds. In round four, however, Miocic started punishing Cormier with hard hooks to the body, and then finished the now former champ with a flurry of punches.

After the bout, Miocic had this to say about his performance and the fourth round, stoppage (quote via MMA Junkie):

“I was fighting like a b—h,” Miocic said. “I really was. I don’t take nothing from ‘DC.’ He’s tough. He’s fought the best in the world and he’s beat the best in the world. It took me a little time to get my mojo, and I just wasn’t feeling it. When I walked out for that fourth round, I knew it was going to be over. I could just see his face, the way he was sweating, the way his hips were moving. I knew it was going to be over.”

Miocic faced Cormier for the first time last July at UFC 226, and lost via first round, knockout. The Ohio fighter had defended the heavyweight title a record three times before that.