Daniel Cormier on Francis Ngannou’s path to victory
Former UFC champ champ Daniel Cormier will be cageside commentating at UFC 260, as Francis Ngannou again tries to dethrone…
Former UFC champ champ Daniel Cormier will be cageside commentating at UFC 260, as Francis Ngannou again tries to dethrone heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Cormier is 1-2 in the trilogy with Miocic, and in an interview with reporters after the event weigh-ins, DC talked about the main event.
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The reality is that fight No. 1 [vs . Miocic going five rounds] was the anomaly, said Cormier. The norm is what happens to most people. Let’s see if he can find a way to stay within himself. I don’t think he can and honestly, I don’t think he should. I think he should try to blitz Stipe and really try to get him out of there because I don’t know if he wins the fight over 25 minutes.
The fight will take place in the smaller Octagon at the APEX in Las Vegas, a factor that DC believes is to Ngannou’s advantage.
I honestly believe that it plays to Francis early, said Cormier. Again, it’s all sbout it’s a tale of two fights, man. It’s minutes where the danger is extremely high. The danger is as daunting as anything you can ever think of. It’s like being locked in a cage with a tiger. How long can you survive? That’s what you do when you fight Francis. How long can Stipe survive to start imposing himself in the fight?
Early, the small Octagon plays to Francis because when he starts to go downhill it’s a terrifying sight. You saw it against Jairzinho [Rozenstruik]. It started a bit slow, Francis made up his mind and he was just going to go and when he did, the fight was over 5 seconds later. It’s just not much room to run as a smaller guy.
Since the first fight, Ngannou lost to Derrick Lewis before destroying four top fighters in a row, which Miocic fought Cormier three times, going 2-1.
[Miocic] has got to be more careful early than he had to be in fight one, said Cormier. In fight one, he was 35 years old, maybe 34. Him and I beat each other up for three fights, so he’s got to be careful. The Octagon is small, so if he finds himself trapped against a big guy like Francis early, it could be lights out
UG, how do you think the fight goes?
h/t Danny Segura and Ken Hathaway for MMA Junkie
