The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Next bout for Miocic is shaping up
UFC boss White says ex-champ gets Lewis-Ngannou winner
It appears a major roadblock in Stipe Miocic’s path to a shot at winning back the UFC heavyweight title is out of the way.
At least for now, according to UFC president Dana White.
On May 14, White said Jon Jones — the former light heavyweight champ was is working to bulk up to heavyweight — doesn’t appear ready to fight champion Francis Ngannou.
That means up next for Miocic — according to White — is the winner of Ngannou-Derrick Lewis, a fight that yet to be made official.
In April, Ngannou knocked out Miocic in Round 2 of the their title to win the heavyweight belt. Rumors were swirling after that bout of a super fight between Ngannou and Jones, but White said that talk has cooled.
“We have tried to work with him and see if there are things we can do to make him want to fight at heavyweight,” said White on “The Jake Asman Show.” “But if he doesn’t want to fight at heavyweight, he doesn’t want to at the end of the day. What are you going to do? You can’t make the guy fight.”
If Jones is out of the immediate picture, it appears Lewis (25-7) is in line to be Ngannou’s first title defense.
Lewis is one of the few heavyweights Miocic has yet to fight. Lewis and Ngannou fought in 2018 on the undercard of UFC 226, where Daniel Cormier knocked out Miocic to win the title. Miocic later avenged that loss with two straight wins against Cormier.
Lewis won the threeround fight by a decision, but neither fighter did much of anything. Since that loss to Lewis, Ngannou (16-3) ripped off five straight wins — all by knockout — en route to becoming champion.
The good news for Miocic (20-4) is with Jones apparently out of the heavyweight picture for now, a title fight against the winner of Ngannou-Lewis looks promising. At least that’s what White hinted at on May 14. Also, any talk of a possible Jones-Miocic bout isn’t likely, said White.
“Jon Jones made it very clear that he has no interest in fighting Stipe,” White said. “What you do is you do the fight with Derrick Lewis and Francis and then Stipe gets the winner.”
Miocic turns 38 in August, and his storied UFC career as arguably the greatest heavyweight in history is firmly established. He holds the record for most consecutive title defenses among UFC heavyweights, and has the most title defense wins overall.
“He is the heavyweight GOAT,” said White of Miocic. “The guy has put in the work and done all the things you need to do to be the heavyweight GOAT. We’ll see what’s next. I like that he’s fired up and wants to fight again.”
Meanwhile, Miocic recently said on “The Pat McAfee Show” he in the process of gaining 20 pounds to ready himself for what he expects to be a trilogy fight with Ngannou. In early 2018, Miocic dominated Ngannou in Boston to break the UFC heavyweight record for consecutive title defenses at three.
Miocic told McAfee he came in too light at 234 pounds against the 263-pound Ngannou last April.
“I want to get back what’s mine,” Miocic said about the heavyweight belt. “It’s bulking season. I’m going to eat as much as I can and get big and strong. I’m trying to get to like 250 (pounds). I made 230 last time, not because I tried, but because of training.
“I’m really going to stick to really trying to gain a little bit of weight, just get a little bit more mass. I felt good, but I think 20 pounds will help. I will feel a lot stronger, and he’s a big dude. There’s no question about it.”