*(Via LA Times) – Daniel Cormier wanted history, and wanted it accomplished appropriately and classically at Madison Square Garden: His way.
In a dominant display of the wrestling talent that made him an Olympian, a Strikeforce champion and a UFC double belt-wearer, Cormier on Saturday night became the first fighter in organization history to successfully defend his title in two divisions by submitting heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis by rear naked chokehold in the second round.
“It’s history, baby!” Cormier, 39, exclaimed in the octagon afterward. “Daniel Cormier is one of the best of all time.
“A lot of people have to understand I’ve been doing this for nine years. There’s no surprises with me.”
Lewis (21-6) knew what was coming, and the power-punching challenger from Houston who’d won nine of his last 10 fights and had 18 knockouts still couldn’t handle the energy of the man who also stands as light-heavyweight champion too.
Cormier (22-1) took Lewis to the canvas by grabbing his left leg one minute into the first round, pummeling the challenger with fists and elbows to the head as the champion successfully contorted himself while holding Lewis, who weighed nearly 15 pounds more at Friday’s weigh-in.
Lewis smartly sought to stand early in the second and landed a kick and punch to the face that hurt one of Cormier’s eyes, but the San Jose-trained Cormier grabbed the left leg again and took Lewis down.
Lewis sought to squirm loose, but he stumbled backward and Cormier was in a dominant position again before positioning to apply the defining chokehold that brought Lewis to tap out 2 minutes, 14 seconds into the round.
The victory moves Cormier to a likely date in March against former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE “champion” Brock Lesnar.
Get the rest of this story at LA Times.
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