UFC President Dana White says the fact former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic isn’t getting an immediate title rematch with Daniel Cormier is not a personal slight whatsoever.

During Miocic’s (18-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) more than two-year title reign, his relationship with the UFC was somewhat rocky. He sat out nearly nine months due to a contract dispute, intentionally avoided having the belt wrapped around his waist by White following one his title defenses, and would occasionally reference how his treatment could be better.

Since dropping the strap to Cormier (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) by first-round knockout at UFC 226 in July, Miocic, who has the longest defense streak in divisional history at three, has been campaigning for an immediate rematch with “DC.” The promotion has plans for a Cormier vs. Brock Lesnar (5-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) fight next year, though, and it’s yet another UFC decision that doesn’t sit well with Miocic.

“I don’t know why – Stipe always feels like we’re disrespecting him, which we’re not,” White said in a recent interview on the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast with hosts Jim Norton and Matt Serra. “We have a lot of respect for Stipe and I think he feels like it took him a very long time to get his title shot and he felt it took him longer than it should have. Then once he got it – every time I turn around he feels disrespected. He’s anything but disrespected. The complete opposite.”

With a Cormier rematch seemingly off the table, Miocic may have to take another fight in the interim. He’s been targeted by surging heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes (10-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who claims Miocic has been offered a matchup against him at UFC Fight Night 139 on Nov. 10 in Denver.

There are plenty of instances throughout UFC history where dethroned champions have received immediate rematches. Many of those have got the opportunity after doing far less as champion than Miocic did during his reign, but in this particular situation, White said the Lesnar fight was already being put together against the UFC 226 winner.

“You saw that we set up the fight with Cormier to fight Brock,” White said. “That would have been Stipe if Stipe won the fight. No disrespect to Stipe. It was just something that was in place before that fight even happened.”

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