Dana White confirms Francis Ngannou will face champ Stipe Miocic after UFC 218 win

[CEITEDMOFO]

Francis Ngannou is next in line for UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

That’s according to UFC president Dana White, who talked to the media at the UFC 218 post-fight press conference Saturday night in Detroit. Ngannou stopped Alistair Overeem in less than two minutes in the UFC 218 co-main event, picking up the biggest win of his career in brutal fashion.

Fabricio Werdum called for a title rematch against Miocic after his recent main-event victory over Marcin Tybura last month, but Ngannou is getting the next crack at the current titleholder.

“[Ngannou] looked incredible tonight. Wow,” White said after confirming Miocic vs. Ngannou. “That’s as impressive a heavyweight knockout as you will ever see.

“When you look at him, he looks like the heavyweight champion of the world. I mean, he looks like the heavyweight champion of something. The guy’s a monster. He continues to get better. I always believed in this guy since I met him, I thought that he was going to be the man, but, boy, he looked like the man tonight.”

White said he wants to see Miocic vs. Ngannou as soon as possible. When asked if the promotion could save the title fight for International Fight Week 2018 in July, White said it will be booked for much sooner than that.

Ngannou was born in Cameroon, Africa, and White believes promoting him will be a good way to enter the African market.

“This guy’s going to be a rock star — globally,” White added.

Miocic has not fought since his second title defense in May at UFC 211, where he knocked out Junior dos Santos in the first round. He hasn’t stepped in the cage since then because he and the promotion have not yet come to terms on a new contract, but according to White, negotiations with the heavyweight champ are “good.” If true, that won’t be a roadblock keeping Miocic vs. Ngannou from being scheduled for early next year.

And Ngannou himself wants to see the Miocic fight happen as soon as possible, like White. He hadn’t fought since a January stoppage of Andrei Arlovski, and he took no damage against Overeem, so he is already itching to get back in the Octagon.

“I’m injury-free, so I’m ready to go,” Ngannou said at the post-fight press conference. “I’d been out for a long time, like 10 months, and now I want to go.”

Miocic has not yet commented on Ngnanou’s win or the fact he will be facing Ngannou next.
Dana White confirms Francis Ngannou will face champ Stipe Miocic after UFC 218 win

 

[ndthentherewasx]

Ngannou by ko in the 1st


Book it

 

[87 others]

Stipe leaves himself open A LOT. Here is to another “upset” and a new “goat”. Until a new inexperienced heavyweight in his 20’s with ko power comes around, of course. Heavyweight division is trash lol. Talent pool is shallow as fukk.

 

[MF budz]

Who has this dude even beaten? Just arvloski and oveereem? I wouldnt underestimate stipe wrestling. Will probably come in handy. Also how is francis cardio in rds 3, 4 or 5 of it goes that far?

 

[James Gordon]

Let get it

Stipe gon get put to sleep 1st round offa stuffed takedown
quote me on that brehs and brehettes

 

[calixprynce]

Stipe gone get KO'd.

He gonna hold the belt for a cool minute like Woodley is

And no welterweight fukking with Woodley and breh don't even be fightin

 

[Big D Bangston]

Rooting for Ngannou HEAVY, but I hope this won't end up like I fear, with the new hot prospect getting exposed I the big fight.

Ngannou by KO in the 2nd

 

[rosie93]

I'm really hoping that he wins tbh

 

[75 Others]

Heavyweight division is trash lol. Talent pool is shallow as fukk.

I agree but in a different way, it's just a messy ass divison right now, more than it's ever been. Messy ass quick KO left and right

 

[Strapped]

Is stipe good on the ground

 

[OC's finest]

Is stipe good on the ground

He's a wrestler, so he will be impossible to take down

I just listened to a podcast, and heard stipe is still working part time as a fireman?



The way bruh talked about training and shyt had me like

He's half asking it, it seems like

I'm shocked he's gotten that far, training the way he does and still working a job

I think ngannou will brutally ko him

Ngannou is hungry as fukk, and ain't half asking this

My only curiosity is ngannous cardio

Some of these white ufc fighters have real good wrestling backgrounds and can grind u for multiple rounds, really pushing you into deep waters if you don't have cardio

Heavyweights typically don't got great cardio either cuz they carry so much weight

Guess we will find out

No way stipe stands with Francis to bang

 

[Strapped]

He's a wrestler, so he will be impossible to take down

I just listened to a podcast, and heard stipe is still working part time as a fireman?



The way bruh talked about training and shyt had me like

He's half asking it, it seems like

I'm shocked he's gotten that far, training the way he does and still working a job

I think ngannou will brutally ko him

Ngannou is hungry as fukk, and ain't half asking this

My only curiosity is ngannous cardio

Some of these white ufc fighters have real good wrestling backgrounds and can grind u for multiple rounds, really pushing you into deep waters if you don't have cardio

Heavyweights typically don't got great cardio either cuz they carry so much weight

Guess we will find out

No way stipe stands with Francis to bang

Stipe ko'ed his opponents so effortlessly , we will see if francis can absorb his punches .stipe seams like a smart dude in keeping his job just in case

 

[OC's finest]

Stipe ko'ed his opponents so effortlessly , we will see if francis can absorb his punches .stipe seams like a smart dude in keeping his job just in case

Stipe is def some kinda athletic freak. Dudes huge, got bombs for hands, and a real solid jaw

I think ngannou is a diff level of beast tho

Dude got some agility and speed that is absurd for a heavyweight

It's just a question if he got the work ethic to get well rounded, and also whether he got the good genetics for cardio like jon jones and Cormier did

 

[Strapped]

We have to guys that are aggrssive