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The latter half of 2021 has been quiet for former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
The Eastlake North graduate misplaced the belt to Francis Ngannou final March when Miocic was knocked out in Spherical 2.
The 2-time champ hopes issues decide up in 2022 — the yr he hopes is his return to the octagon. Most significantly, he needs a shot at reclaiming the title of “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” the moniker given to the heavyweight champ.
How that occurs is murky in the mean time. On Nov. 22, Miocic was on The MMA Hour speaking about a wide range of matters. Most notably was his hope for a trilogy battle in opposition to Ngannou. That’s the bout he prefers. He additionally mentioned except the belt is on the road, there’s little to no real interest in any battle.
Miocic getting that title shot clearly hasn’t occurred but. When and if a 3rd battle with Ngannou happens is the massive query lingering within the UFC heavyweight division.
The fighters cut up their first two bouts — Miocic successful in dominant style in 2018, and Ngannou scoring a dominant win final spring.
Miocic lamented his efficiency in opposition to Ngannou in March.
“I let him dictate the tempo. I let him do what he wished,” mentioned Miocic. “I simply didn’t do what I need, simply type of stayed again. Obtained hit a number of occasions, took a horrible shot. There was numerous issues I did incorrect. However pay attention, all of us make errors.
“He hit me with some good photographs however that left hook is the one I didn’t see. I hit him with that proper and I got here in weapons blazing with my fingers down and he hit me with the one I didn’t see. That was finish of it.”
Ngannou (16-3) hasn’t fought since his win in opposition to Miocic (20-4). However he’s scheduled to take action in January 2022 in opposition to interim heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane, who’s 10-0 after he defeated Derrick Lewis in an interim title battle created by UFC president Dana White.
Miocic mentioned on The MMA Hour he wasn’t positive if he would settle for an opportunity to battle in that interim title bout however added he would have “liked to have been requested.”
Now, Miocic should sit again and watch the Gane-Ngannou unification battle at UFC 270 in January. A Ngannou win is something however a assure as Gane (6-foot-4, 247 kilos) has proved to be greater than succesful. A Gane win might arrange a wide range of choices for the UFC. One may very well be Gane vs. Miocic. Or probably Gane vs. Jon Jones, the previous mild heavyweight champ who’s reportedly transferring as much as heavyweight.
Maybe in that state of affairs, Miocic might battle Ngannou a 3rd time. However with out the belt on the road, Miocic might say thanks however no thanks.
It shouldn’t be a secret White and the UFC is banking on a Ngannou-Jones title battle in 2022. That may be a giant pay-per-view money-maker for the UFC.
The 39-year-old Miocic and spouse Ryan not too long ago had their second baby, a son, so household has been the precedence for Miocic prior to now months. Looking forward to 2022, Miocic mentioned there’s a deliberate assembly in Las Vegas in December with White to debate his future with the UFC.
Prior to now months, there have been stories and rumors of a doable Jones-Miocic battle within the works, which Miocic mentioned on The MMA Hour.
“I don’t assume he wished it,” mentioned Miocic of a rumored Jones battle. “I don’t know the entire story however I’m down. Then he needs a title shot. I do know he’s finished effectively, he’s in all probability one of many best of all time however you’ve nonetheless acquired to attend your order. That’s like me going to mild heavyweight and being like, ‘I need a shot.’ ”
Miocic has informed The Information-Herald quite a few occasions he would anybody, and that features inside a hoop and crossing over to boxing. In the interim, his focus is Ngannou and a trilogy battle — with the belt on the road.
“… I actually need that trilogy battle,” mentioned Miocic. “That (title) was mine. I need it again.”
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