Stipe Miocic picked up a big win Saturday night at UFC 211, knocking out former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos to defend the heavyweight title for the second time. That ties the UFC heavyweight title defense record (Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, and Cain Velasquez have also defended the belt twice). In fact, Miocic is on a run that has impressed many – just not fellow heavyweight Francis Ngannou.
Appearing on The MMA Hour earlier today, Ngannou (10-1), ranked fifth in the division, channeled his inner GSP:
“That was a good performance, but I’m not impressed. I think I need more than that” Ngannou said when asked about Miocic’s performance over the weekend. What about Miocic in general? “No, I’m not impressed with him. I see things like, I dunno… I’m [more] impressed than Stipe by someone like Velasquez. I feel Velasquez is the best heavyweight we have.”
Ngannou has spoken of a desire to fight Cain Velasquez before. The former heavyweight champ is out of action dealing with an injury, however. And in the meantime, the Cameroonian-French fighter is in need of a fight. Who would he prefer?
“The perfect scenario is the belt” Ngannou said, “and Stipe is the one who has the belt. My goal is the belt. I’ll take anyone who has the belt. So Stipe.”
While it may seem crazy, there’s a possibility such a fight could happen. Ngannou is a fighter with a lot of hype behind him, and has backed it up. Currently riding a nine fight win streak, he has won all five of his fights in the UFC. Every single one has been a stoppage. Miocic (17-2), meanwhile, has already defeated every fighter ranked ahead of Ngannou in the heavyweight division – with the exception of Velasquez, who remains on the sidelines.
When does Ngannou, who is currently seeking a gym after moving to Las Vegas (though it sounds like he’ll be working at Syndicate MMA), want to step in the octagon again? “I’d like to fight in July.”
