The head of the UFC 226 Stipe Miocic still does not know why he has doubts

LOS ANGELES – Statistically, Stipe Miocic is the best heavyweight in the history of the UFC

No one has more consecutive title defenses in the weight clbad than him. Not Cain Velasquez. Not Brock Lesnar. Not Tim Sylvia or Randy Couture. And for his defense of the next title, Miocic is more than a 2-1 favorite around -265

But still, he thinks he's still having his fair share of doubters out there – as he he had done when he beat Francis Ngannou. And when he beat Junior Dos Santos. And when he beat Alistair Overeem.

"(That's) like every fight – I have the impression that not everyone really gives me a chance, as if I were a washed fighter or something like that, "Miocic said today's Media Luncheon in Los Angeles

Miocic (18-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) on Saturday puts his heavyweight title on the line against lightweight champion Daniel Cormier (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC). (Cormier's 205-pound title will not be available.) UFC 226 will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card is broadcast in pay-per-view after the preliminary rounds on FS1 and UFC Fight Pbad

Probably the invincibility of Cormier as a heavyweight, before his race against the heavyweights, which suggests that He can beat Miocic. And there is the romantic notion of what it would mean for Cormier to become a competing champion of the two-division UFC. "DC is an incredible fighter, of course – one of the best in both weight clbades: heavyweight and light heavyweight," Miocic said. "He's going out and trying to do what he's doing.But unfortunately he's not going to have it.I'll go out with the belt still wrapped around my waist."

This mantra "and always "is what Miocic has experienced in almost every interview for a long time now. But he has not failed yet. Now, he's arguably the biggest fight of his career on a big stage with big implications for the challenger.

One could argue that Miocic does not have as much to gain as Cormier, but stakes like this one does mean a lot to Ohio blue-collar workers, who still work as a firefighter between training for championship fights.

But Miocic knows one thing: it's a huge fight between two of the best pound fighters for the pound. "There are a lot of great fighters on the list, but yes – it's an overlay," Miocic said. "(Demetrious)" Mighty Mouse "(Johnson), Max (Holloway) and Brian (Ortega) … So many good champions, but right now, it's a superficial one and it's a good thing. What everyone wants to see, I'm excited, too.

"I would fight anybody -" DC ", Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar, no matter what. who (after this). Whoever they want to beat me, I will fight. For the moment, it's all that worries me.

To learn more about Miocic, check out the full video interview above.

And to learn more about UFC 226, check out the Rumors section of the UFC