March 28, 2021 - For the second time in his career, Stipe Miocic loses the UFC heavyweight title, this time after a brutal knockout by Francis Ngannou.

Stipe Miocic suffered a heavy defeat in the fight for the UFC title in a rematch against Francis Ngannou. The Cameroonian defeated Miocic with a brutal knockout at the beginning of the second round. 

Stipe shut down as the blow landed straight on his chin. Ngannou wanted to make sure he was the new champion and threw himself at Stipe, hitting him once more before Herb Dean interrupted the fight. 

It was a very weak showing by Miocic, who fired only a few punches in just under six minutes. Ngannou was dominant from the first to the last second of the fight, while Miocic was passive - and the fact that he did not fire a single hit in the first round speaks volumes.

Francis Ngannou deservedly won the UFC title. He adjusted his style and tactics, responded to Miocic's strength in their first fight, and used his greatest qualities in the best way. 

So, what does this mean for Stipe? 

Stipe Miocic has defended the heavyweight belt four times and lost it twice so far - but will he have time to win it back?

At 38 years old, Stipe does not have too much time left to achieve great things in his career. He has already shown why he was called the best UFC heavyweight in history, and there is no need to prove himself. If he had beaten Ngannou at UFC 260, another fight would have awaited him, a super-fight against Jon Jones.

After the fight, Ngannou himself expressed his desire to fight Jon Jones, which could be the best-selling UFC fight in history. Stipe will still have to wait for the winner of that duel for his superfight, be it a trilogy with Ngannou or a coveted match with Jones for the best in history.

The only chance to see Stipe with Jones first is for Dana White to give a chance to Derrick Lewis, who had already beaten Ngannou right after Miocic in 2018.

We’ll see if Stipe, meanwhile, accepts a fight against someone other than Ngannou or Jones. It is increasingly likely that the legendary fighter will wait until the end of this year or 2022 for another last chance for immortality.

Stipe will be remembered as one of the greatest, no matter how he ended his career, and to the Croatian fans, along with the legendary Cro Cop, there is no better fighter.

Source: Gol.hr

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March 26, 2021 - Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou will meet for the first time in 3.5 years at the UFC 260 in Las Vegas. 

Gol.hr reports that a few days before the UFC 260 kicks off in Las Vegas this weekend, Croatian-American Stipe Miocic and Cameroonian Francis Ngannou met ahead of the highly anticipated rematch, one that'll go down in UFC history. A press conference on Thursday, followed by an official staredown. 

Recall, three and a half years ago, Ngannou climbed on stage, looked at Stipe, and turned both fingers down, saying “you’re done” to the Croatian-American MMA artist. He was smiling, conceited, and confident.

Stipe destroyed him in January 2018 in 25 minutes of fighting. He defended his belt record for the third time and entered UFC history as the best of all time. He later confirmed this with a victory against Daniel Cormier in the great trilogy.

This time, Ngannou did not make any gestures and was very humble instead. He is aware that he has to change something in his approach in order to have a better chance against Miocic, starting with realizing that he is facing the greatest heavyweight in the history of freestyle wrestling.

"Of course I won't take anything away from the victory that Stipe achieved three years ago. He was better that night, but when I look at the footage of that match, I don't recognize myself at all. Not even the way I fought, the way I attacked him. That guy looked like me, but I didn't recognize him," Ngannou said.

"I also made a lot of mistakes entering that match. I wasn't present. I didn't have emotions in that match. This time everything will be different. I had enough time for my team and me to prepare. I think what we have prepared will work,” said Francis, who believes he has made a lot of progress compared to the first match.

"I have always wanted to fight Stipe again. He showed that he was a better fighter then, and I just want to avenge that defeat and prove that I am the best," the Cameroonian concluded.

Stipe is the current champion, the most successful in UFC history, and as such is considered by many to be the best heavyweight to have ever stepped into the sport.

“That means I’m doing something with the coaches and the team right,” Stipe said, revealing what he thinks of the newer version of Ngannou.

"He has definitely gotten better. I knew we would meet again someday. A tough fight awaits us," Stipe said.

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