UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic bagged his title via first-round knockout over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 in May 2016. Save for his most recent title defense against Francis Ngannou, he has so far won his two other succeeding fights via first-round knockout as well.

This is one factor that challenger Daniel Cormier has taken into consideration, as he plans to bring the fight to deep waters, wherein he sees himself as the victor if it does happen.

“The only way he can win is to knock me out,” Cormier said during the open workout media scrum. “There’s no other way he beats me. If he didn’t finish Ngannou on the ground, he is not finishing me on the ground. And if we fight for 25 minutes, there is no way he gets his hand raised.”

Miocic was asked about DC’s remarks during his own media scrum, where he simply brushed them off.

“I’ve knocked people out and I won,” Miocic told reporters. “Guess what? You’re getting knocked out, too. And I’m gonna keep winning.”

“I’m still the champ, I like being called champ, and nothing’s gonna change that. I love being the champ, and I worked my ass off being here, and I’m not gonna give it up,” he said. “I sacrificed way too much, my coaches, they sacrificed way too much. I ain’t giving it up.”

Miocic and Cormier will headline UFC 226 this Saturday, July 7th, to cap off International Fight Week in Las Vegas.