The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Miocic reaches out to fans after knockout loss
Ex-heavyweight champ: ‘I hate letting you down’
Stipe Miocic made his first public comments almost two days after a devastating knockout loss.
Stipe Miocic on March 29 made his first public comments almost two days since a devastating knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in Las Vegas that handed the UFC heavyweight championship belt to Ngannou.
Miocic’s most notable message to his fans was “I’m OK” and “To my family friends and fans, especially Croatia and Cleveland ... I love you and I’m sorry. I hate letting you down.”
Miocic’s social media post was several paragraphs long, and in detail about the fallout from the loss to Ngannou, which included a trip to a hospital after the fight. A few of the highlights from Miocic’s post:
• Miocic said he was knocked unconscious. That included an awkward fall in which his left leg was pinned under his thigh. For a few moments, he was motionless on the canvas.
• He gave no indication he was retiring from the UFC or mixed martial arts: “You can’t dwell on what you should have done better, but you can learn and improve from it and come back more prepared the next time.”
• Miocic lamented going away from the game plan against Ngannou, starting in Round 2: “I felt great coming into the second round. I saw it was beginning to go as planned. He was getting very winded, and I came in over zealous and unprotected. I wasn’t in a good posture to take the hit … That was my error that I accept. It won’t happen again.”
• He said his immediate plan is to recover and relax. “I’m going to enjoy the down time, spend
time with my family, and welcome our son into the world this summer. Stay tuned, God bless.”
Miocic and his wife Ryan are expecting their second child.
Per UFC rules, a fighter is suspended for a minimum of 30 days for medical recovery following a knockout. A medical expert evaluates the severity of the injury, and the medical recovery suspension can be increased up to six months. During that time, a fighter is not allowed to spar or compete.
Miocic will turn 39 in August, and told The News-Herald before his loss to Ngannou he had no interest in fighting well into his 40s.
Fight fans saw a much different Ngannou on March 27 than the one who was dominated by Miocic in Boston in 2018. He came in almost 30 pounds heavier than Miocic, and
that extra weight generated huge shots.
A big right by Ngannou (17-3) was the bout’s first big shot, but Miocic (20-4) fought that off. Moments later, the Eastlake North graduate tried the ground game and got in deep on a single-leg takedown. Ngannou fought that off and headed into Round 2 with momentum.
Less than a minute later, a short left stunned Miocic against the cage. Miocic fought back with a right but another left dropped Miocic, and a new era in the heavyweight division began.
What’s next for Miocic as a fighter is to be determined, but his legacy is secure among UFC heavyweights all time. His career marks include records for most consecutive title defenses (three), most total title defenses (four), title fight wins (six) and total strikes (1,537).