Following UFC Fight Island 7 on Saturday, there was plenty of talk around Max Holloway’s impressive main event performance. It might have been enough to earn “Blessed” another shot at his old title, still in the hands of Alexander Volkanovski. But UFC President Dana White, speaking at the post-fight press conference following the event, also let slip that another big title fight is set: Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2.
The bout will take on March 27, the UFC head confirmed. That’s the date for UFC 260, which already has Volkanovski defending the featherweight belt against Brian Ortega.
Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 is expected to feature as the main event. ESPN had previously reported that the UFC was hoping to book the fight for that day, although at the time, it wasn’t set in stone. It appears that has now changed, and the fight is set.
Miocic (20-3) last fought in August, when he defeated Daniel Cormier in the rubber match of their trilogy. Considered by many the greatest heavyweight of all time, Miocic, 38, is on his second reign as UFC heavyweight champion, and between his two runs, has defended the belt a total of four times. Three of those defenses came in Miocic’s first run as champ, a record among heavyweight champions.
The Ohio native, who also serves as a firefighter, holds wins over Cormier, Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Mark Hunt, Roy Nelson, Andrei Arlovski, and a host of other notable names. He also defeated Francis Ngannou in the pair’s first meeting in 2018, earning a unanimous decision win.
Ngannou (15-3) would lose his next fight, against Derrick Lewis. He has not lost since, however, compiling a four-fight win streak. During that run, Ngannou has four first-round stoppages, against Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, and most recently, Jairzinho Rozenstruik. With two former champions and two top contenders in that group, it’s clear Ngannou has made his case for a rematch.
And apparently, the UFC agrees. UFC 260 takes place March 27, 2021 at a location yet to be announced. The following fights have been reported for the date thus far:
Stipe Miocic (c) vs. Francis Ngannou – for the UFC heavyweight championship
Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Brian Ortega – for the UFC featherweight championship
Jimmy Crute vs. Johnny Walker
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
