UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou is on a ten-fight win streak, the last six in the UFC. And his last four fights all ended in under two minutes, including the latest, a decapitation of up til then #1 contender Alistair Overeem. Many believe that the Cameroonian-French fighter is the next big thing. However, during a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was not impressed.
I’m excited, man, said Miocic, as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting. Listen, he’s a good, tough dude. I mean, he can bring the pain. So will I. But unfortunately I’m not walking out without that belt. I’m still the champ. It’ll be ‘and still.’
If Ngannou really is what’s next, he has to be doing something from the other fighters. Miocic thinks he’s identified what make Ngannou Ngannou
His power, I guess,’ Said Miocic. “But I think everyone hits hard in the heavyweight division I mean, 260-pound men, 250-pound men, you’re not supposed to be hit by something like that. I fought ‘JDS,’ I fought Alistair, I fought Mark Hunt. I fought guys who threw hard. And he’s a little wild too, which, that’s tough. Sometimes you can’t prepare for that because there’s punches you don’t see.
Every guy is different, every fight is different. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh my God, his punching power.’ Listen, there’s a lot of guys who hit hard. There’s no question, he does hit hard, but I’m not going to be stupid and put myself in a position where I’m going to get hit. I’m going to do things that make him feel uncomfortable, and I’m going to do what I’m going to do. I’m not going to sit there and let him do what he wants. I’m going to dictate what I want.
He’s definitely gotten better, there’s no question, but we’ll see what happens. Listen, I’m going out there for broke. I’m going out there to win.”
I’ll find out Jan. 20. I think I’ll be alright. I have the best coaches in the world, I’m pretty confident walking in there. He’s a big dude, throws hard, but that’s every heavyweight. It doesn’t take much.
I think Overeem really was just kinda being a little sloppy and then put his face right in the lane.”
When I fought him, he was very traditional, moving around, running, but keeping his distance. Like, okay cool, that’s a fight. Then he tried that lunging — I don’t know what kind of kick — to my thigh and I grabbed it and took him down. But, I didn’t watch the whole fight with Ngannou, but what I saw was he (Overeem) was throwing all these wild punches. When he fought me, he was throwing straights and he wasn’t really [throwing anything wild].
Miocic also spoke out in favor of adding to the exisiting number of weight divisions, and valuable step in ending the culture of extreme weight cutting.
If they had a 225 class, all day, I could easy make that. Easy, said Miocic. I think it’d be great. I’d be aboard for that.
