UFC 241 best bets: Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic 2 👊
UFC 241 best bets: Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic 2
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will put his belt on the line in a rematch against former champion Stipe Miocic on Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim (early prelims on ESPN+ at 5:15 p.m. ET, prelims on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, main event on PPV at 9 p.m. ET).
Miocic closed as the incumbent favorite in their first matchup but this time will face Cormier as an underdog challenger. Here is a look at the fight.
Heavyweight title matchup: Champion Daniel Cormier(-130) vs. No. 1 Stipe Miocic (+120)
Tale Of The Tape
Heavyweights are volatile beasts. With so much power, one punch is much more likely to change the outcome of a fight than in any other division. And that was the case in the first matchup between Cormier and Miocic.
Out of the gates, it looked like the pressure game of Miocic was giving Cormier problems. But it was a quick inside punch from Cormier that suddenly floored Miocic and finished the fight before the end of the first round.
Their numbers and strengths haven't changed. Both men have a wrestling base and both have developed sharp hands. Neither is known for brutal single-strike power, but both have the ability to hurt opponents and pour on a finish when necessary. It's a dog-or-pass situation.
E+ recommends: Small play on Miocic, only at plus money. Fight does not go the distance.
Other best bet on the card
At middleweight, two-time title challenger Yoel Romero faces an undefeated prospect in Paulo Costa. It's a matchup that could affect the future title picture and a pairing that pits two of the strongest power strikers in the division. It's rare we'd support a guy who is 14 years older than his opponent, but Romero has the wrestling base and durability to face equally dangerous strikers. Romero's only UFC losses are two decisions against the current champion, so you'd have to believe that Costa is title-worthy if you're picking him to win. That could be the case, but the price for Romero in a three-round, non-title fight is reasonable.
E+ recommends: Yoel Romero ML -160.
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will put his belt on the line in a rematch against former champion Stipe Miocic on Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim (early prelims on ESPN+ at 5:15 p.m. ET, prelims on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, main event on PPV at 9 p.m. ET).
Miocic closed as the incumbent favorite in their first matchup but this time will face Cormier as an underdog challenger. Here is a look at the fight.
Heavyweight title matchup: Champion Daniel Cormier(-130) vs. No. 1 Stipe Miocic (+120)
Tale Of The Tape
| Last Fight Weight Class | Heavyweight | Heavyweight |
| Current Age | 40 | 37 |
| Height | 71.0 | 76.0 |
| Reach | 71.0 | 80.0 |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Analyzed Minutes | 217 | 151 |
| Standup striking offense | ||
| Total Knockdown Ratio (Scored : Received) | 4:3 | 5:3 |
| Distance Knockdown Rate | 2.3% | 2.9% |
| Head Jab Accuracy | 35% | 38% |
| Head Power Accuracy | 32% | 40% |
| Total Standup Strike Ratio | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| Striking defense | ||
| Total Head Strike Defense | 73% | 71% |
| Distance Knockdown Defense ("Chin") | 99% | 98% |
| Wrestling and grappling | ||
| TD Attempts per Min Standing/Clinch | 0.38 | 0.54 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 48% | 38% |
| Advances per Takedown/Top Control | 1.1 | 0.8 |
| Opponent Takedown Attempts | 30 | 12 |
| Takedown Defense | 77% | 75% |
| Share of Total Ground Time in Control | 97% | 97% |
| Submission Attempts per Trip to Ground | 0.22 | 0.00 |
Out of the gates, it looked like the pressure game of Miocic was giving Cormier problems. But it was a quick inside punch from Cormier that suddenly floored Miocic and finished the fight before the end of the first round.
Their numbers and strengths haven't changed. Both men have a wrestling base and both have developed sharp hands. Neither is known for brutal single-strike power, but both have the ability to hurt opponents and pour on a finish when necessary. It's a dog-or-pass situation.
E+ recommends: Small play on Miocic, only at plus money. Fight does not go the distance.
Other best bet on the card
At middleweight, two-time title challenger Yoel Romero faces an undefeated prospect in Paulo Costa. It's a matchup that could affect the future title picture and a pairing that pits two of the strongest power strikers in the division. It's rare we'd support a guy who is 14 years older than his opponent, but Romero has the wrestling base and durability to face equally dangerous strikers. Romero's only UFC losses are two decisions against the current champion, so you'd have to believe that Costa is title-worthy if you're picking him to win. That could be the case, but the price for Romero in a three-round, non-title fight is reasonable.
E+ recommends: Yoel Romero ML -160.