UFC Pound-for-Pound Fighter Rankings: Stipe Miocic rises, Daniel Cormier exits as epic trilogy concludes

Watch Now: UFC 252 Recap: Stipe Miocic Defeats Daniel Cormier In Unanimous Decision (8:35)

If he wasn’t already the greatest and most accomplished heavyweight to set foot inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic cemented those titles by outlasting Daniel Cormier on Saturday in their title trilogy bout at UFC 252.

The staggering amount of times Miocic has been overlooked because he isn’t marketable or picked against by fans and media members was never an editorial against the talent and heart that he brought to the table. Neither will it be when those same people probably pick against him once more in future fights against Jon Jones or a rematch with Francis Ngannou.

Either way, the 37-year-old Miocic has proven his worth again and again with a heavyweight resume that simply can no longer be compared with any of his peers.

Since a very forgettable 2012 knockout loss to Stefan Struve, Miocic is 11-2, with both losses having been avenged in title bouts by knockout. He has also finished everyone from Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski and Fabricio Werdum to Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos and Cormier. But along with setting the record for most heavyweight title defenses, Miocic also did something he rarely gets enough credit for — evolve and improve with each fight regardless of age or mileage.

Miocic’s second-straight win against Cormier may have been his most impressive to date when you consider how much he showcased his fight IQ and chin by absorbing damage and constantly making championship adjustments. While he gets far more attention for his cardio and power as to reasons why he has been so successful, Miocic’s takedown defense has helped him quietly evolve into one of UFC’s most well-rounded champions.

The idea of a P4P list means that, by principle, it’s typically slanted against heavyweights as a way to compare smaller fighters to larger ones given that they will never be able to face each other on even terms. Even in that mythical setting, Miocic has shown enough versatility, craft and perseverance to climb the rankings with each victory.

Although his chief rival in Cormier has chosen to walk away for good, the only thing left for Miocic to do is reach higher at his overall greatness among all fighters in UFC history. With Jones’ imminent arrival and Ngannou’s resurgence, Miocic will get even more difficult opportunities to do just that.

Pick against him at your own peril. Miocic really is that dude.

For CBS Sports’ updated divisional rankings, click here.