Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic can’t wait to fight Francis Ngannou in a rubber match, stating that his UFC 260 loss is ‘driving him nuts’.
In their first fight at UFC 220, Miocic neutralised Ngannou’s threat by adopting a wrestling-heavy approach and winning by unanimous decision. He tried to apply the same strategy in their rematch at UFC 260, but ‘The Predator’ came in with much-improved takedown defence, keeping the fight standing, before getting the knockout finish early in the second round to win the belt.
Ngannou Trilogy
Speaking to Submission Radio (as transcribed by MMA Mania), Miocic said that he’s itching to avenge his UFC 260 loss to Ngannou.
“I want a rematch, and I wanna get my title back. He took something that was mine, and it drives me nuts every day,” Miocic said. “I’m always fired up after a loss. I hate losing. I’ve lost a few times, and just, I hate losing, it just drives me nuts. I hate losing. I’m very competitive and I like winning.”
With Jon Jones out of the title picture for now due to failed negotiations with the UFC, Dana White considered a non-title fight him and Miocic, but the former light heavyweight champion declined the offer.
Open To Fighting Anybody
Although Miocic would prefer to fight Ngannou in a rubber match next, he’s open to fighting any contenders in the UFC heavyweight division.
“Honestly, I don’t care who it is. I really would love to fight Francis again for the rematch and get that ‘W’ back over him in the rubber match,” Miocic said. “But yeah, I don’t care who it is. I’m not preferring anyone, but if I had a choice, I would want to fight Ngannou again. Just because he beat me last time and took the belt. We’ll see when I get a rematch. Maybe early next year.”
Responding To Derrick Lewis’ ‘Punch Drunk’ Comments
While Miocic is confident of capturing the gold again, Derrick Lewis, who is expected to face Ngannou for the title next, believes that the Ohio native ‘is too punch drunk’ to reclaim the title.
Responding to the jabs, Miocic joked that maybe Lewis’ balls were too hot when he made his comments.
“I’m punch drunk? I have no idea what he’s talking about,” Miocic said. “But okay. His balls were probably too hot, that’s probably why he said that.”
Do you think Stipe Miocic deserves an immediate rematch with Francis Ngannou?
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