CLEVELAND -- Francis Ngannou has impressed plenty of people in the mixed martial arts world with his knockout power, but UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is not one to be intimidated by an opponent.
Although considered an underdog heading into his third championship defense, which takes place Saturday in the main event of UFC 220, Miocic is confident in his skills and believes the words “And Still” will rattle off the walls of TD Garden in Boston following the final bout of the evening.
“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.”
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.
“Of course, he’s really intimidated,” Ngannou said at the same press conference. “He knows what’s going to happen. I know he’s just making proud statements like, ‘Yes, I’m the champ. I’m this. I’m that,’ but he knows the guy he’s going to fight. He knows that it is going to be the fight he’s never had in his career.”
While Miocic is not intimidated, he knows better than to underestimate his opponent.
“Francis is an amazing fighter,” Miocic said. “Him starting in so fast, he’s got great power. He’s very athletic. He’s a big heavyweight. He’s definitely shown it, and that’s why he’s here.
“Good for him, you know. He got the win, an easy night. Those are the best nights, when the fight’s done early and you go home unscathed.”
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.
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.
Ironically enough, his last loss, a unanimous decision setback 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 his latest title defense with a 17-2 record in his professional career, and 11-2 in his 13 bouts under the UFC banner.
“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.”
