Much has been made about the punching power of Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title contender Francis Ngannou, but whether it’s viral videos of his previous knockouts or UFC president Dana White comparing it to that of colliding with a Ford Escort going full speed, that is of little consequence to Stipe Miocic.
The UFC heavyweight champion for more than 20 months, Miocic has been the underdog in many of his professional fights, and heading into his third title defense, he is in that same position against the hard-punching Ngannou.
But with tonight’s title fight looming at TD Garden in Boston, Miocic is ready to remind the doubters why he is the champion.
“He’s a big dude, hits hard, and he’s going to come out throwing bombs,” the normally jovial Miocic said flatly after his open workout. “I’m just going to be ready for it, of course. He is a tough guy.
“Listen, I’m going to go out there and do my best. I’m going to give it all I’ve got, like I always do. I’m going to go out there and fight. He knows he’s going to be in a fight. I hope he knows there’s a fight coming this Saturday. It’s going to happen. I’m putting a fight on him.”
In the co-main event of UFC 218 at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit on December 2, 2017, Ngannou earned a vicious first-round knockout of former top contender Alistair 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.
“A lot of people think that, and they wake up looking at the lights,” Miocic said.
A native of Euclid and graduate of Eastlake North High School, 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 in Dallas on May 13, 2017.
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.
“Listen, I’m going to go out there and I’m going to do my job, just like I do every time. I know he’s a big, tough guy, strong, hits hard, but so do I,” Miocic said. “I pack a little punch. I might be a little smaller than him, but it’s all good.”
Ironically enough, his last loss, a unanimous decision setback to dos Santos on December 13, 2014, put Miocic on a path to five straight knockout victories. Including the redemption win over dos Santos, Miocic has finished off 14 opponents, all by knockout or TKO.
Miocic enters this latest title defense with a 17-2 record in his professional career, and 11-2 in his 13 bouts under the UFC banner.
“Every title fight, listen, I don’t care who it is,” Miocic said. “I’m going to go out there and I’m going to do what I need to do to win.”
