Vegas Play of the Day: Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 226

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, July 7, 2018 | 1:47 p.m.

The fifth season of the annual Play of the Day betting competition between the Sun’s sports staff is now under way, effective July 1.

Bankrolls start at $10,000 for each of the four participants, with the objective to increase it as much as possible over the next year. The minimum daily wager is $300, with a $200 penalty assessed for failing to place a bet on an assigned day.

Past winners are Case Keefer in 2017-2018, Ray Brewer in 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, and Taylor Bern in 2014-2015.

Will Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier go the distance? No at minus-140: $420 to win $300

Both Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic are extremely durable. They’re also extremely powerful.

I expect to the latter to win out over the former at T-Mobile Arena, and to a larger degree than this line accounts. Odds for a heavyweight title fight to not go the distance are typically higher than this.

The reputations of Miocic and Cormier have forced too large of a drop. They’re each one of the best fighters the other have ever fought, and will both attempt to move forward early.

There’s a good chance of an early knockout, especially for Miocic. If that fails, a Cormier submission isn’t out of the question if he’s able to get Miocic to the ground.

Both fighters have been stopped before — though Cormier’s knockout loss to Jon Jones was later overturned to a no contest for the winner’s positive drug test — and they’re at further risk as their careers progress. Age matters in these discussions, and neither Miocic nor Cormier are young.

They’re 35-years-old and 39-years-old, respectively. That hasn’t affected them in the past, but fighters’ chins tend to fade with age — and it’s often sudden.

They both would have to absorb a lot of hits to prevent this bet from cashing.

Current Standings: Keefer (2-0, $10,990), Brewer (0-0, $10,000), Grimala (1-1, $9,800), Granger (0-0, $9,600)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.