Ngannou knocks out Miocic to win heavyweight title at UFC 260

Image: ESPN

Just over three years ago, Francis Ngannou was dominated by then-UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 220 in Boston, MA. It was a humbling, one-sided defeat as Ngannou had no answer to Miocic’s wrestling and spent the majority of the fight on his back.

Fast forward to Saturday’s UFC 260 where a more patient Ngannou knocked Miocic out cold in the second round to win the title and potentially set up a mega-fight with former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Ngannou showed he was a much different fighter in the first round as after hurting Miocic, he stuffed a takedown attempt and even landed some hard shots in response. In the second round, a Ngannou power jab put Miocic down and a flurry sent him scrambling. Then after Miocic landed a punch, a short left dropped Miocic cold and a hammer punch while he was on the canvas was the final nail in the coffin. 

The 34-year-old is now riding a five-fight win streak with first or second round KO/TKO finishes in all of them. Jones tweeted “Show me the money” after the fight while Ngannou showed interest in the Jones fight during his post-fight talk with Joe Rogan.

The 38-year-old Miocic has lost two of his last four and has only fought either Daniel Cormier or Ngannou dating back to the aforementioned January 2018 fight. Given his other career as a firefighter and infrequent fighting schedule, he may choose to outright retire. He didn’t speak on the broadcast after the fight ended.