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Four reasons why Cleveland's Stipe Miocic will successfully defend UFC title against Francis Ngannou

Here are four reasons why Cleveland's Stipe Miocic will successfully defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Francis Ngannou at TD Garden in Boston on January 20.
Stipe Miocic (red gloves) celebrates after he defeats Junior Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 211 at American Airlines Center in Dallas on May 13, 2017.

CLEVELAND -- UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is set to make his third straight title defense, as he will take on fast-rising top-ranked contender Francis Ngannou in the main event of UFC 220 at TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, January 20.

And here are four reasons why Miocic will successfully defend the UFC heavyweight championship for a record third consecutive time.

PROVE PEOPLE WRONG

Miocic avenged one of only two losses on his professional record with a knockout of Junior dos Santos at the 2:24 mark of the first round in the main event of UFC 211: Miocic vs. Dos Santos 2 at the American Airlines Center on May 13.

Miocic finished off his fifth straight knockout victory by backing up dos Santos against the cage and flooring him with a right hand to the head.

Despite dispatching of two former UFC champions, dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum, as well as highly-decorated MMA practitioner Alistair Overeem in his last three fights, Miocic is considered the underdog heading into his defense against Ngannou.

“I think everyone does, but it ain’t going to happen,” Miocic said of people hoping for a quick Ngannou finish. “I can tell you that. He can do it to someone else, but it ain’t going to happen to me. Listen, man, he knocked out Overeem pretty good.

“Good for him. It was a great knockout, but that ain’t going to happen when we fight on January 20. Sorry, but it’s not going to happen. I’m not going to put myself in that position. I’m not going to put my head in the lane either.”

LONG LAYOFF TO HEAL UP

Although Miocic was successful in his last title defense against dos Santos, it came with a price in the form of a leg injury that required further medical examination than the routine post-fight checkup. However, Miocic is back at full strength.

While the UFC’s matchmakers figured out the contender rankings in the heavyweight division, Miocic put in work on his craft, honing his skills for the time when an opponent was chosen.

“Business as usual, just enjoying life, family, friends, getting better every day in the gym,” Miocic said.

“Honestly, it’s really great. It’s just the way it worked out. There was really no contender, so I was just kind of waiting around. Now, with Francis Ngannou, he’s a super-tough guy, great competitor, so I’m excited for January 20.”

FOCUS ON TASK AT HAND

With the redemption win over dos Santos, Miocic improved to 17-2 in his professional career, and 11-2 in his 13 bouts under the UFC banner. Additionally, Miocic earned his fifth straight knockout win, and has now finished off 14 opponents, all by knockout or TKO, since turning pro.

Ngannou is 11-1-0 in his professional MMA career and 6-0 since entering the UFC in 2015.

“Let him get all the hype he wants,” Miocic said. “I do what I do, and I’m going to keep winning.

“Honestly, I don’t worry about stuff like that. I’ve got other things to worry about. I train hard and get ready to fight. Good for him. He’s definitely made a name for himself. He’s got the attributes to do it. He’s knocked out some great guys, but listen, man, I’m going to go out there, do my thing and win on January 20 and break the record for defenses. I really don’t care, honestly. It doesn’t bother me. I just like shutting people up.”

NO INTIMIDATION

In the co-main event of UFC 218 at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit on Saturday, December 2, Ngannou earned a vicious first-round knockout of another former top contender in Overeem with a left hook that landed flush on the jaw.

Then, in the post-fight interview, Ngannou said he is the real world champion and that Miocic was simply holding the belt for him in the interim.

Ngannou has impressed plenty of people in the mixed martial arts world with his knockout power, but Miocic is not one to be intimidated by an opponent.

“That’s what I signed up for,” Miocic said at the pre-fight press conference. “Why would I be intimidated by another man? There’s a reason why I’m the champ.”

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