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SPORTS Monday 5 noveMber 2018

Cormier chokes out Lewis; defends 2nd title at UFC 230

By DAN GELSTON self-deprecating humor —
AP Sports Writer including a randy answer
NEW YORK (AP) — The "DC" as to why he stripped off his
initials that flashed on the shorts inside the cage after
Madison Square Garden his last win — earned him a
marquee have a deeper sponsorship deal with Pop-
meaning for Daniel Cormi- eyes Chicken.
er. "Look who just slid into our
Dual Champ. DMs before the weigh
Cormier draped himself in in," the fried chicken joint
two title belts, history-mak- tweeted, with a picture
ing bling that cemented of Lewis chomping on a
the 39-year-old as one of drumstick.
the greats in the mixed Much like attacking a
martial arts game. bucket of chicken, Cormier
"Two belts for each shoul- tagged Lewis everywhere:
der! I get to look at this leg, thigh, and then the
again," Cormier said. "It's neck for the decisive blow.
history and Daniel Cormier "A lot of people have to un-
is one of the best of all- derstand that I've been do-
time." ing this for nine years and I
He backed up his boast fought at a championship
with authority in New York. Daniel Cormier holds his belts after defeating Derrick Lewis by submission during the second level for eight of them,"
round of a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 230, early Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at Madi-
Cormier choked out Der- son Square Garden in New York. Cormier said. "If you have
rick Lewis in the middle of Associated Press a puncher's chance it's not
the second round to retain good enough."
his heavyweight champi- ier called out former UFC biggest ever for heavy- ing test that kept him out The main event had history,
onship in the main event heavyweight champion weights. Lesnar is still with of the sport for 15 months. if not the thrills of the earlier
of UFC 230, becoming the and current WWE star Brock WWE and left the promo- Cormier will be stripped of bouts.
first fighter to defend titles Lesnar for a match in 2019. tion's controversial Crown his light heavyweight title Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza
in two weight classes. Cormier had an itch to add Jewel event on Friday in and the 205-pound crown connected on a flush right
Cormier, who also holds the a third (yet faux) title. Saudi Arabia as the Uni- will go to the winner of the hand to the temple to
light heavyweight crown, "Bring that belt with you versal champion. His status Jones-Gustafsson bout at knock out Chris Weidman
made quick work of an when you come to my remains as murky as ever UFC 232 on Dec. 29 in Las in the third round in a battle
overmatched Lewis with a house," said Cormier, who — he still has to serve out Vegas. of two fighters who both
rear naked choke. He cel- has vowed to retire at age the remainder of a USADA Jones has ruled out a tril- badly needed a victory.
ebrated with his family in 40. suspension — and was not ogy, and Cormier's next Souza and Weidman were
the cage as Lewis trudged Cormier won the heavy- spotted at MSG. challenger will surely give engaged in a brutal slug-
out, still in his trunks unlike weight crown when he flat- Cormier beat Anthony him a better fight than fest that kept both fighters
the last fight that made him tened Stipe Miocic, a bout Johnson in 2015 to win the Lewis. on their feet for most of the
a quick star. that ended with theatrics light heavyweight title and Lewis (21-6) served 3½ first 2½ rounds. Weidman fi-
Cormier (22-1, 1 no-con- after he called Lesnar into defended it against the years in prison in his early nally got caught and clung
test) had a quick take- the cage. Lesnar shoved likes of Alexander Gustafs- 20s stemming from a pa- to Souza's leg as he tried to
down in the first and turned Cormier in the chest while son and Volkan Oezdemir. role violation when he was find his bearings. Souza got
in a dominant yet dull effort the fighters traded insults Cormier has never lost to charged with aggravated a couple of punches in for
to easily take the round. He to hype a potential future anyone except Jon Jones, assault shortly after high good measure until referee
didn't waste much time in bout. the star-crossed former light school. Lewis took up mixed Dan Miragliotta mercifully
the second and left MSG UFC President Dana White heavyweight champion martial arts shortly after his stopped the fight.
with a little slice of history. has said he wanted a Le- who beat him twice. The release and used his big Souza rebounded from a
He was still ready to rumble. snar-Cormier bout signed second bout last year was right hand to ascend to a loss to Kelvin Gastelum at
With trash talk worthy of for next year, a showcase changed to a no-contest title shot. He had won nine UFC 224 and did it with a
WrestleMania hype, Corm- that would surely be the when Jones failed a dop- of his last 10 fights and his busted nose.q