Daniel Cormier says he needed to change his motivation to prepare for Stipe Miocic rematch

Reigning UFC heavyweight champion and former light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier admits he wasn’t exactly motivated when the UFC came calling about a rematch with Stipe Miocic.

Cormier KO’d Miocic last year to become a simultaneous two-division champion and the former Olympian has had to completely change his mindset in the lead-up to this year’s championship rematch at UFC 241.

“The motivation needs to change,” Cormier told MMA Junkie Radio in a recent interview. “Before, it was, ‘I’m going to go and become a double champion.’ Now I need to go and defend this title again and go beat one of the best heavyweights of all-time for a second time. This is not easy.”

It’s going to be difficult for ‘DC’ to top his first-round KO of Miocic at UFC 226 but the American Kickboxing Academy standout plans to put on a good showing nonetheless.

“Ultimately, it’s always about winning the fight,” Cormier said. “Get the job done, but if there’s any way to improve, then try to improve. I mean, can I find a submission? Can I find a way to take advantage of the same type of mistake that he may have made prior?

“I spoke about a mistake that Stipe made constantly, consistently, and I was able to capitalize on it but maybe there’s something else we’re seeing that we didn’t have to do last fight that I can use in this one,” Cormier added. “There are a lot of different ways to try and win a fight.”

UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic II takes place later this year, August 17 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.