Photo credit to Francis Ngannou's Tapology page.
Why this could be defining year for Francis Ngannou in UFC history
When Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou met on January 20, 2018, Stipe defended his UFC heavyweight title in a unanimous decision. Ngannou, at the time, was an inexperienced fighter who had risen to the top of his lighting pace, and many felt he was not ready to be champion. However, that loss changed his career. He started changing aspects in his professional life, such as establishing a centralized training camp, hiring an agent, adding a coach and a social media manager, among other changes. Ngannou possesses an unmatched talent that few can match in the history of MMA. His previous four wins have come in knockouts of 45, 26, 71 and 20 seconds. Since losing to Miocic in 2018, there have been only four heavyweight title fights, with three featuring Miocic and Daniel Cormier. However, Ngannou has always believed he deserved a shot at the title especially given his form in the cage. This Saturday will present him with that opportunity and a chance to get into the history books when he faces Miocic. If you fancy your chances on who will emerge victorious, head over to sites such as Comeon sports to place your bet and also access a wide range of sporting events bet on.
Why this fight is different
Miocic can rightly claim the crown of being the greatest MMA heavyweight fighters of all time after beating the likes of Alistair Overeem, Daniel Cormier, Fabricio Werdum, Junior dos Santos and even his current opponent, Francis Ngannou. However, Ngannou realized his mistakes, and his recent form suggests their Saturday meeting will be an entirely different affair than when they last met. During their last meeting, Miocic used his experience and technical nuance to take down Ngannou. However, Ngannou was equally as impressive, but his inexperience ultimately cost him the match. If he learned anything about that meeting, this could be the year he claims the highest MMA price, which he feels deserves to be under his belt.
The odds are against Miocic
Even though he is the champion, the odds are against Miocic in this match. Many feel the tactics he used against Ngannou the first time worked, but they may not work this time as his opponent has learned his lesson.
Why Ngannou is the big favourite to win
Ngannou has always been disturbed after his loss to Miocic and waiting too long for a shot at the title. While this will fuel his rage for the fight, he will need to be sober-minded and not be overly aggressive, as this could work against him. If he is under control and focuses on neutralizing the takedowns by his opponents, he will be the big favourite to come out on top. Ngannou will also take heart that he lasted the entire five rounds and posed a danger anytime he was on his feet. While Miocic may be better tactically, Ngannou is powerful, and this will work for him if he has learned his lesson from the first fight.
