The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Vegas says Miocic is underdog in UFC 220
The fact Stipe Miocic is on the doorstep of UFC heavyweight history doesn’t seem to be a big deal to the wise guys in the desert.
Nor the fact Miocic has defended his championship belt two times — each time knocking out big-time contenders in the first round.
The fighter with the biggest buzz is Francis Ngannou, who shook up the UFC in Detroit on Dec. 2 by knocking out Alistair Overeem with a vicious left upper cut that left Overeem unconscious for several minutes.
That performance has made Ngannou the favorite by Las Vegas odds makers against Miocic for their upcoming fight Jan. 20 at UFC 220 in Boston.
Miocic shrugged his shoulders after a recent workout at Strong Style in Independence about the opening betting line — which has been steady in Ngannou’s favor since the bout was announced Dec. 10.
“Whatever,” Miocic said. “I’m used to it.”
Asked if he takes the betting odds as a slight against him as the champ, Miocic said, “No. The money’s on him right now. The smart money will come at the end (of the fight).”
This is the first time Miocic is an underdog since he defeated Fabricio Werdum in May 2016 to win the heavyweight championship belt. Miocic closed as +138 underdog in that bout.
In his two title defense victories, Miocic was a -146 favorite vs. Overeem at Quicken Loans Arena in September 2016, then a -185 favorite against Junior dos Santos last May in Dallas.
According to BestFightOdds.com, the opening line for Ngannou-Miocic had the champion a +130 underdog, meaning a $100 bet would net $130. Ngannou opened as a -160 favorite. A $100 bet and win by the challenger would bring back about $60.
The betting line has increased since, making Miocic an even bigger underdog. According to 5Dimes.com, Miocic is now a +155 underdog, and Ngannou a -165 favorite.
“The odds don’t matter. What matters is what happens on the 20th, right?” said Miocic’s coach Marcus Marinelli. “We know what we know. It’s a little disrespectful, and it tends to fuel (Miocic’s) fire a bit. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. We’ve been underdogs. We’ve been favorites. It is what it is.”
It’s a dream matchup for the UFC pitting the upstart Ngannou (11-1) vs. the champ Miocic (172). Ngannou is 6-0 in the UFC with four wins by knockout. His last two bouts ended with firstround KOs of Overeem and Andrei Arlovski. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder is nicknamed “The Predator.”
“He’s very athletic and very, very strong,” Marinelli said of Ngannou. “He’s seems fearless. He doesn’t throw punches light. He throws hard with bad intentions.”
Marinelli said he and the rest of the coaching staff have done some work watching video of Ngannou, but most of their attention is about their fighter. By the second week of January, film study will intensify, Marinelli said.
That analysis won’t do anything to change Miocic’s plan in one sense.
“I think he’s going to sit back, and try to counter me,” Miocic said. “That’s what he does to everyone. (Ngannou and Overeem) were throwing bombs, and one landed. I’m not going to do what Overeem did. He put himself out on a limb.”
If Miocic leaves the octagon with the belt, he will become the first UFC heavyweight to defend it three times. History is on the line, and Miocic welcomes it.
“Everyone talks about it, so you have to think about it,” he said. “But listen, I’m here to win.”
Or as Marinelli, puts it — win first, celebrate later.
“There’s no need (to talk about the record). Sure we know it’s there, but we have to focus on Francis Ngannou,” Marinelli said. “That’s the only thing that matters — the 25 minutes in the cage in Boston. If we (get that record), we’ll tear up Boston celebrating.”