The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Season of anticipation for heavyweight champ
Miocic, wife expecting second child; up first is title defense vs. Ngannou
It’s fight week for Stipe Miocic, and that means anticipation for his title bout with No. 1 contender Francis Ngannou is at a fever pitch inside his gym Strong Style.
At home, anticipation is also sky-high. Miocic and wife Ryan are expecting their second child.
UFC fans, get ready because Stipe Jr. is on the way. The Miocics will soon be welcoming a baby boy. Ryan is about 15 weeks pregnant. Their daughter Meelah will turn 3 by the time her brother is born.
“Trust me, if we were having a baby girl I would have been perfectly fine with that,” said Miocic. “But I fell down almost crying when I found out (it was a boy).”
It is indeed a busy and exciting time for the UFC heavyweight champion, who’s set to defend his belt for the fifth time.
The main event bout March 27 in Las Vegas at UFC 260 will mark the ninth straight time Miocic will be swapping punches with the heavyweight championship of the world and title of “baddest man on the planet” on the line.
If anyone is thinking the champion is feeling extra pressure these days with a newborn on the way, think again.
“I like having distractions during camp,” said Miocic. “Not thinking about
the fight. Gives me a break from the craziness.”
The main event at UFC 260 will be a rematch from a January 2018 bout that had a different feel to it. Miocic was the champion, but Ngannou’s stock was at a fever pitch after a vicious knockout of Alistair Overeem in his previous bout. When the time came for MiocicNgannou, the challenger — and not the champ — was the betting favorite in Las Vegas.
Miocic (20-3) said at the time it didn’t bother him, but his performance seemed to indicate otherwise. The champion put on
a clinic for five rounds, as he used six takedowns and a steady use of both hands to dominate in a unanimous decision.
Miocic had the advantage in strikes — 200 to 33 — and significant strikes — 70 to 21. In the fourth round alone, it was 82-0 in favor of strikes to Miocic.
That was three years ago. Ngannou (15-3) said he’s a different fighter now, but Miocic said so is he.
“I’m lighter, stronger, in better shape,” said Miocic, who plans to weigh in between 230 and 235. “I’m 38, but I feel I’m the best version of myself.”
Ngannou — who weighs
about 275 — relies on brute power, and is always looking for the knockout. In his last four bouts, he’s found it, and it’s a big reason he’s vaulted himself back to being the No. 1 heavyweight contender. Those fights lasted, in order, 45 seconds, 26 seconds, 1 minute, 11 seconds and 20 seconds before Ngannou ended things with a KO.
Now Ngannou is intent on making amends for the 2018 loss to Miocic.
“When I look back to that fight, I see a lot of opportunities that I could have had if I really was well-prepared,” Ngannou said recently.
Miocic and his coach Marcus Marinelli know Ngannou wants to end the fight within the first two rounds with a KO. That’s a sound game plan, if it works.
If the fight extends into the third, fourth and fifth rounds, it’s reasonable to think advantage Miocic in a big way with each passing minute. Ask any heavyweight about the thought of a five-round bout, and all will say it’s not a pleasant thought, mostly because of the training needed for it.
Miocic feels the same way, but he also realizes building the strength and
endurance to go deep into a fight gives him a huge advantage. As for Ngannou, he’s not so sure.
“He’s 275,” said Miocic. “That’s a lot of weight to be carrying around for five rounds.”
The architect of building Miocic’s endurance for a five-round fight is Coach Marcus Marinelli, who — along with Miocic’s stable of coaches — says this camp has gone well, and that his fighter is ready.
“Everything is in stages, and sometimes you’re not sure where you’re at. Now we know where we’re at,” said Marinelli. “We’re happy where he’s at.”