MMA Fighting - UFC 260 Timeline: Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2

Episode Date: March 23, 2021

Before UFC 260, hear how UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou ended up again in an Octagon on Saturday night. Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. MMA fighting presents. Timeline. Miochich versus Nganoo 2. October 8, 2011. UFC 136, Edgar versus Maynard 3. Houston, Texas. Steepa Miochich debuts in the UFC against Joey Beltran.

Miochich wins by unanimous decision. After a quick knock. out of the night performance in Nebraska over Philip DeFries, Miochich returns to face heavyweight prospect Shane Del Rosario. And they offered you Shane Del Rosario. He's making his UFC debut coming over from Strike Force. How much did you know about him when you got the call? Oh, I knew he was.

You know, I knew he's a great fighter in Strike Force, great fighter in Strike Force. And, you know, when I got the phone call, I didn't hesitate and took that fight. I asked him on Monday if he knew you, what his reaction was when he got the call. He said he didn't know you. He had to Google you to find out about you.

Does that surprise you? Yeah, I mean, I'm still a little guy, you know, working my way up. So it doesn't surprise you. Oh, no, I'm giving a couple more. I'm not worried about, you know, I have big names. Keep fighting, keep getting better, and keep winning. Neutich wins a TKO in the second round. You're such a humble fighter.

You're such a humble guy. How do you remain humble now? You're an undefeated UFC heavyweight. You've won three and no inside the octagon. I have good coaches, you know, good teammates, good friends and family. You know, I just have good people around me. September 29, 2012. UFC on Fuel TV 5, Struve versus Miyochich, Nottingham, England.

After a 3-0 start in the UFC, Miochich is booked in his first main event against Stefan Strouve. Miochich goes on to lose by second round TKO, but takes home fight of the night honors. June 15, 2013, UFC 161, Evans v. Henderson, Winnipeg, Canada. Miochich makes his return to the cage as the co-main event against Roy Nelson. You're coming off a loss, the first loss of your career. How does that change, you know, the way Fight Week feels for you, their mindset, you know, how you approach this fight?

I think I approach every fight the same. You know, you're going to win. Of course, last fight didn't go the way I wanted it to, but that's why I'm hearing it's why I took the fight. You know, I don't know who you know about this, but there's some kind of behind-the-scenes drama of Roy Nelson going into this fight. Last fight on his UFC contract, he wins. He obviously has a lot of momentum going into free agency. If he loses, all that momentum is gone. Do you like being that kind of spoiler?

Do you like ruining those plans for him? I'm just worried about myself, that's all, you know. And you even know about that situation? No. You know him and Dana White have had their issues. A little bit about it. Yeah, but I mean, it'd be kind of a hit man. Take him out.

No, I'm worried about myself. We're going to the fight on Saturday, so. Miochich defeats Nelson in a dominant unanimous decision. Was there any point in the fight where you think, thought maybe, you know, you're in trouble you had a regroup or did you feel like you were in control the entire 15 minutes? I felt like I was in control, you know? I was against a cage. It clinched him. He couldn't move me. Third round. Did you just want to get the win at that point? Because you were hearing some booze. Did that bother you? No, I was, I knew he's going to go for kill.

You know, he was going to try to take my head off. You know, I was up two rounds and then. What would you do? I would sit there out and play smart, you know? I was still trying to hit him. I still, I think I got to rock him a couple times that third round. But whatever. I got the win to talk here about, you know? Biggest athletic achievement of your career tonight? Oh yeah, of course, man. You've had some big ones, but this is big. Come on, man.

Go ahead of Pan, Winnipeg first time. Let's go. This is awesome. Don't get better on this. Miochich goes on to win his next two bouts in the UFC. In Chicago for UFC on Fox 10, Henderson v. Thompson, against Gabriel Gonzaga, by unanimous decision. And in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Miochich knocks out Fabio Maldonado and the main event at Tough Brazil. December 13th, 2014, UFC on Fox 13, Dos Santos versus Miochich,

Phoenix, Arizona. You know, I've got to say something to you here. You know, I've talked to you before. We've done interviews, Winnipeg, whatnot, and you don't seem to love doing media. And then I see you on Twitter, and you're like the most prolific Twitter, tweeter out there. I mean, you're nonstop. I'm like, I'm like, what do with my hands?

What do I do with these things? You know, I'm terrible. So I'm wondering, are you the one actually tweeting? I'm actually going to go out there and call you out and wonder if you're the one tweeting. Of course. This is prolific stuff that you're doing. You're nonstop. It's easy right stuff.

Just when I have a camera in my face, it's terrible. Like, I get, you talk to my courage. Look at the camera. Just look right here. You put me in the spot. No, man. No, yeah. Yeah, man, I just, I don't know.

When cameras, I have a hard time. And I'm like, eh, you know, and I get real shy. I don't know what it is. I just, I'm terrible. I just see me at news. And I go on the news, I'm terrible. I'm like, do you want to get better? I try.

I'm trying. I'm trying. I've gotten better. I feel like the Twitter has really brought out your personality, though. I mean, you've really come. I have a good personality. I do. That's what I'm saying.

I want to see more of it on camera because there. There he is. That's the guy I'm talking about. In a fight of the night performance, Dos Santos wins a very close decision. The loss snaps Miochich's three-fight winning streak. Obviously, you disagree with the decision. Can you talk to us a little bit about what you thought of the scoring, obviously? Yeah.

I mean, like Danes. I slowed down a little bit, especially third, beginning of the fourth, you know. In fact, I ain't more. In the fourth and fifth rounds, you know, I mean, at least thought I won two of those rounds, for sure, like I somewhat decently close, but apparently not. Like you say, don't let me go to the judges. And you know what, he was the better man than that he got his hand race, so then I can do about it. May 10, 2015, UFC Fight Night 65, Miochich v. Hunt, Adelaide, Australia.

Miochich headlines yet another UFC card, this time in South. Australia against Mark Hunt. In what would be a historic night, Miochich lands a total of 361 strikes the most of any fighter in UFC history. Miochich officially wins by TKO midway in the final round. December 19, 2015, UFC on Fox 17, Desandro's versus Seroni, Orlando, Florida. Francis Ngano makes his UFC debut against Luis and Anike. First fight, Henrique!

Ngano wins by knockout. You landed a big upper cut that put him down, finished him with one more shot. What did you see to set that punch up? I don't have to prepare anything in boss because I have good box and I feel the when he comes. I know any moment to put anything. I see very nice in box. I just prepare my fight since five, four months, dining.

And I know that something can be like this or like that. If you come like this, I do this. If you be like this, I do this. But just be careful. Just don't. I was, the main thing was to do not rush at any time. Just be ready to pull out what I've been training since four months. So I don't need to sit up.

some things new or hypercure or whatever, I can feel in the boxing. That's my thing. I can feel and know the good time and have the timing for that. At UFC, it's like not here. It's clear that I've already done other competitions but it has nothing to have with UFC. The UFC rest the top of the top. At the UFC, on other levels, I've been doing a little bit,

I started a few months ago and I've been fighting in our organization, but this is something huge. This is something next step for him. Even when you approach, you sense that, no, there's not, it's not bad. I was pretty sure I would feel good in the work. But when I get in, I was nervous because there's something huge, there's something big. Francis Ngano returns to the cage to face fellow heavyweight prospect Curtis Blades in Croatia the following April. Ngano wins by TKO.

January 2nd, 2016, UFC-195, Lawler v. Condit, Las Vegas, Nevada. Back on a wind streak, Miochich is set to face former champion Andrei Arlofsky and the pay-per-view co-made event. This is sort of a dream matchup for you because of his striking. I feel like you guys are kind of cut from the same clock. Yeah, you know, Dream, I don't know, anyone thinks anything's a dream getting punched in the face. But in general, no, yeah, I think it's going to be a great matchup between both of us. But, you know, I think I'm a better striker and I think I'm faster and better cardio.

So we'll see, you know. He's going to bring his A-game too, so. Miochich quickly dispenses the Bella Russian by knockout in under a minute of round one. The knockout earns steep an extra 50,000 for performance of the night. I know you can't go be a different person, but have you made any kind of a decision that you want to try to be more outspoken? Was this? I guess.

I don't know. I think I'm a funny guy. My friends think I'm funny. I don't know what I say. I'm a fireman. I mean, you know, I like fighting. It's fun. May 14th, 2016.

UFC 198, Radune versus Miyotich, Kuritiba, Brazil. After 10 fights in the UFC, going 8 and 2 and on a 2-fight win streak, Miocch gets his shot at gold against the champion. Miochich wins in what? MMAfighting.com voted knockout of the year.

Neuchich becomes UFC heavyweight champion at two minutes and 47 seconds into round one. You know, I didn't believe I carried the weight. You know, I was going to go out there and do my best job. You know, Fabrice was a super tough guy. He's a champion for a reason. You know, actually tonight on ESPN for 30 for 30, they had Beliveland. There was a documentary about how Cleveland sports did win in championships. So I knew I had to put it end to it.

You know, I had to stop the curse for us. And, you know, it went well for me tonight. 20th, 2016, UFC on Fox 20, Holm v. Chefchenko, Chicago, Illinois. Ngano was set to face Boyan Mihailovich on his first main card in the UFC. Official weight, 259 for Mr. Engano. Francis! Ngano wins again by first round knockout. You know, I know just here for the superfight.

I need to, I have some goal. and my goal is no only one fight. My goal is the throne. And everyone they give me to fight, I get to fight it because maybe I're supposed to fight all of them. I'm here for a long time. I'm not here just for two days or one week. Thank you.

He would follow up that victory with yet another dominant first round finish over Anthony Hamilton in Albany, New York. September 10th, 2016, UFC 203, Miocchich versus Overeem, Cleveland, Ohio. The UFC comes to Cleveland for the first time, and their hometown fighting hero, Stevie Miochich, is matched up against Alistair Overeign to defend his title for the first time. After getting dropped and surviving a submission attempt, Miochich recovers and defeats Overeign by knockout four minutes and 27 seconds into the first.

Thank God it's over Yeah, you're a lot harder I thought You know, he put me around my ass But you know, I thought It was okay You know, he put me down You know, for a second

I was like, oh And then you got me that front of it I got out of it I felt fine And then took over Because the people are crazy That's why I live here

It's how we do it We don't mess around Wait till next week I go tailgating in the Browns game You're gonna see a lot more fights I'm not gonna be any one of them But you know We watch them

That's how we do it man You know Like I said I rather put in Brazil You know, man, because I got a little emotional in my head for a split second, you know, he was badass, you know. And then people were, you know, I just, you know, I'm just trying to mentally keep them out. But it was, I'm going to remember the rest of my life. January 28, 2017.

UFC on Fox 23, Sheffchenko v. Pena. Denver, Colorado. Ngano is matched up against his biggest name opponent to date, Andre Arlovsky. Since when I start MMA, that is when I start to work. watch the talking about this fighter, this fighter, and then I go to YouTube, I watch the video, I love some people fight, they say, well, Ken Velasquez, they say DeSanto's, Aloiski, and that is when I start to know them, I start looking of them. But at the time, I'm still dream for the Boston car, to have a boxing career, and I don't think so, say one day I

can have an opportunity to fight them. And then after that, when USA gives me opportunity, I say, why not? Now I go to do my best and to be the best. You're supposed to be the best. Ghana wins by devastating first round knockout. For me, I know you're standing at the back of the room. You hear Dana talking about how impressed he is with you, that he believes you could be a future UFC champion. How do you feel when you hear the boss making those type of comments?

He made me happy. He made me confident. Like, as everyone else, you know, since when I started to, this sport just three years, three years and a half ago. And then always when I continue, I grow there are a lot of people behind of me who believe me and will push me, who will make me trust of me because for the beginning, it's not something who interested in me. And then today, because of that people who push me up, I believe and I trust for this sport.

Since when I have my sign on UFC, And then people continue to support me, to stay behind of me. And he pushed me up. He made me be strong. May 13, 2017, UFC 211, Miochich versus Dos Santos, 2, Dallas, Texas. The champion Miotich is set to even the score with the challenger, D'Ossanto, as the main event in Dallas, Texas, at UFC 211. Here's the other thing I have to talk to you about.

The last time we spoke, we made a little bit of news. You were unhappy. I never heard you like this before, right? You said, you want to come in, you're like, I'm like this hormonal. No, but you tell me, like, there's a lot of emotion. One minute here, you're the most obnoxious person of all time that you're a man about this. I'm like, what do you want to do? Listen, you're somewhat stoic. So anytime you give us an inch, it's a big deal. You take it like 30 miles. Well, it's a big deal. You're the heavy, you're the baddest man on the planet, right? Yeah. You were unhappy. You said that they, they mistook your kind. How do you feel now? How are things? Funny, aren't I? Yeah.

All right. But are you under duress a little bit? Like, do you want to clear up things afterwards? No, good. We're good. We're back to one-word answer. Yotich wins by first round knockout. I've worked my ass off to get where I'm at.

You know, if it wasn't for my coaches, my wife, my family, my teammates, my friends, just everyone backing me up, my city, have my back. I won't be where I'm at. You know, it's a Midwest thing. You know how it is. You, everyone has been talking all night about, you know, your second title defense. third is the record. I know, you know, the heavyweight division has been so tough to maintain this title.

But does that matter to you? I mean, does making history matter to? Is that something that's important? Can you, you know, is that something, your place in history? Is that important to you? No, I really don't care. I mean, if I keep winning, I'll break history, big deal. I'm just going to keep winning.

I like winning. It's fun. I like being called champ, especially. That's annoying. What? You're a muffler. You don't hear it? Oh, I don't even notice it.

I usually drown it out with the radio. How's this? Oh, yeah. Way, that. Save on insurance by switching to Bel Air Direct and use the money to fix your car. Bel Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply. Ontario, the weight is over.

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UFC 218 Holloway versus Aldo 2, Detroit, Michigan. Francis Ngano is matched up against Alistair Overeem in his first pay-per-view co-main event. I think UFC won the best to win because if everyone win the fight, I mean, they will not take the victory for someone because they don't want it to win. You know, everyone who deserve it will win.

Why they put us together? Because everyone can win, you know. We both have a chance to win the fight, and then when you win the fight, you win the fight. Nguyen wins by knockout. You're the fourth fighter in UFC history to win your first six fights by a stoppage. Steppe has won his past five fights by knockout.

How do you see a fight between you guys actually going? The fight between me and Stepe, the same way as the other one, knockout. I don't have no prediction than knockout. That's my excuse. That's something that we work in hard for it. January 20th, 2018, UFC 220, Miochich versus Ngano, Boston, Massachusetts. Miochich is set to defend his title against Francis and Ghanu as the main event in Boston. You were on my show a couple weeks ago, and that comment about you saying that you felt like the UFC wanted you to lose, that thing has taken a life of its own.

It exploded. I guess so. I mean, listen, I don't worry about winning it so I care about. You stand by it though? Yeah. Gena White was on a local radio station yesterday and someone asked him about it and he's like, look, that's crazy. Steve is a great guy. He's a fireman. But he did say we've butted heads business-wise over the last couple.

couple years. Business. What do you want? You can't be friendly about it. I mean, what butt heads? What is he talking about? We weren't budding heads. I thought that was budding heads. Then I don't know what it is then. I felt it was negotiations. They're not supposed to be like great. Like best friends. Like oh my God, hey, good times. Yeah, awesome. No, I always talk about. Butta heads. Whatever. Okay, sure. But butt ahead. When you first started your career, did you say you wanted to break the record of most held defenses? Was this something that you dreamed about? I had no idea. what it was about. I really had no idea. I don't remember. Maybe, maybe not. I don't remember.

I don't remember if there's a record. I don't have I ever said it or not. Okay. So this is just something you stumbled upon? Yeah. Oh, cool. Does this make you the greatest heavyweight of all time if you, if you break it? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I don't really care. Can't you just say yes? No, because it's not my, it's not my... It is for you to say. Muhammad Ali used to say I'm the greatest. Well, because he was. You good for him. And so are you if you break this record. Listen, I'm just a typical boy when best boy likes to fight, man. I heard that when you punch people, it's the equivalent of a foretore driving 60 miles.

Yeah, actually it's, you go. Oh, it is, okay. It stopped. Okay, it stopped. I don't know how much you pay attention to the news because you're focused on the fight, but did you hear these comments from the president about these controversial comments last week,

and if so, were you bothered by them at all? I think everyone heard about it. Basically, in my situation, everyone concerned who concerned about immigration and all that kind of stuff. of stuff. Yeah. Are you bothered by it?

Are you offended? Yes. I was, I am, and I will be an immigrant. This year, next year, ten years after I will be an immigrant. So I know that particular situation. I know why those people live their country. They know live their country because they want to live their country. They are not living their country because they love other country than their country.

their country. They live their country because they don't have choice, because they are looking for opportunity, they are looking for chance. I think if team was easy for me, I would stay in Cameroon. I like to be close to my family, but one day I didn't have, I felt like I don't have choice. So I leave everything, leave my family, my friends and everything, my 26 years' life behind me, close the door and take the road, go somewhere and I don't know what, how it looks like, you know. So it was very tough and that was something that, that is something that I didn't do it by choice. After a wild first round, Miochich dominates Ngano with his wrestling and superior cardio and cruises to a unanimous decision. This guy's a phenom. He's one in a million, blah, blah, blah. Well, guess what he lost?

He lost to a Midwest boy That's 40 pounds later than him And I'm the greatest heavyweight I were defending the three times No one's ever done that Right You truly believe that you're the greatest of all time Fuck yeah you know

The ones that were defended the three times I've done it I had the role A killer's role of fighters to get to it I had a hard path to get to the title And I had a hard path to defend the title I had top dudes You know

I had to fight Alaski And I had to fight Rulovsky And I had to fight for do him in Brazil And 45,000 people I mean crazy Next guy. Overim. Killer. K1 champ. It's like a ton of bricks. Next guy, JDS. I lost you.

I got a guy that's a phenom. I mean, nothing's ever easy. I know it's funny anything easy, but I never had an easy row. Everything was hard. Just want to go back to your previous answer about taking the belt and giving it to your coach. You said that guy respects me. So I'll ask you flat out. Do you feel like Dana White doesn't respect you?

I don't know. I don't really care. Where's my coach at? Those years right there? My family. They all respect, I respect them. They come with me. We go to war. No matter what happens, win, lose or draw. That's my family. We all respect each other. What the situation is. I don't really care. Honestly, I got so much on the plate right now. I'm so happy. You know, my beautiful wife as a child. Very lucky. You know, I got my coaches here. Are amazing. Listen, man, I'm not worried about repairing anything. I don't know. Like, apparently I call him out when you told me he said he was talking about we were butting heads.

I call him out of that that's pretty funny what are you talking about I don't know attack him he denied it the problem is I underestimate

my opening and I go too hard for the first round and he was tough than I thought you know so he he resist

and he he puts down in a best game plan than me Do you feel like you will get a chance to see him again down the road? Yes, obviously. And, you know, I've been for this sport only four years.

And I know that I'll keep learning and improving. And what's happened tonight was my, I think it was the last step for me to learn about this sport. because it's the only thing that I never faced in this sport. You know, five-round fight, know how to deal with it. This was the first time, and I did a mistake, and that would not happen again. It's amazing.

It seems almost without fail, every time a fight is labeled as, there's no chance this is going the distance, it goes the distance. I enjoyed the first round of, immensely. My heart was beating incredibly fast. It felt like it was going to, you know, come out of my throat. I thought the first round was so good that it made up for the other four rounds. I feel like if I would have paid that and I didn't obviously, but if I did, I feel like I would have gone to my money's worth just because it was so damn

entertaining for five minutes. Yeah, no, that's fair. And I also think what you saw from that first round is enough to make you think that if Francis takes all the right lessons out of this fight, but then, you know, his story could end up being that he's heavyweight champion someday, got his first title shot a little bit too early. But that first round showed, you know, why we were so excited about this fight. And maybe that's, you know, maybe that kind of portends the future or something that might happen to him somewhere down the road. Yeah, unless we forget many moons ago, Steve Amiotic lost to a guy named Stefan Struv, right?

So you can lose and bounce back and go on to have an incredible historic career. So you talked about those lessons. He talked about some lessons. What are the lessons for Francis Ingunner tonight? You know, he very eloquently said everything, very honestly and open about what he did wrong in this fight. He said that he just exerted too much energy in the first two rounds. You know, maybe where he had put together a streak of quick finishes, he just kind of, you know, that went a little natural to him.

But so pacing, what you have to do, you know, the type of conditioning you need to do for a five. around fight. And obviously the dude needs to work on his wrestling game a little bit. You know, I mean, let's not forget that this guy's only been doing this for four years. When he moved to Paris, he's looking to become a professional boxer. So, you know, if he gets serious about his wrestling game, if he doesn't come out flying every time, you know, going headhunting early on, then, you know, I think, again, we don't write this guy off just yet. And he can throw a damn good punch. He could also take a pretty damn good punch as well.

I'd be shocked if we don't see him in a title fight sometime in the near future. He seems very eager to get back on the horse. July 7th, 2018, UFC 226, Miochich versus Cormier, Las Vegas, Nevada. Daniel Cormier will be moving back to heavyweight to challenge Stephen Miochich for his title as the main event for UFC 226 at the T-Mobile Arena. They can't go as home wrestling back to heavyweight. Your expiration date is coming up in this board. Why in the world, if things go well, would you go back down to 205?

Like what is there for you to do? I'm just, I'm honestly like really selfish and I don't want to give up one of the belts. So it's like going to be a fight between Dana and I, but I mean, we'll see what happens. I mean, either I fight at 205 or I mean, I've already got a challenge in the back. Derek Lewis told me that he was going to knock me out right before we walked out of here. Derek Lewis may knock out Francis and then knock me out afterwards. I don't know. I know they got guys that are lined up to fight me.

He's been sizing me up since I got back there and called me small. He's like, well, you're a lot smaller than everybody up here. That's rude, Derek. He said it. Like, wow, you're a lot smaller than everybody else. That's crazy. Derek, what's your issue with Daniel? I want to know too.

He disrespect that Popeye's chicken on a commercial for you. Daniel Kormier defeats Stipe Miochich by knockout, four minutes and 33 seconds into round one. I think I was winning the fight. I took him down one time for a little bit. I was home against the cage. He was some good shots and I was handling to get some good shots. I was going back and forth, but I thought I was backing him up a lot more and then, you know, probably the right hand.

Whatever it was, elbow I think it was, I don't know something. He's caught right hand, whatever it was. Good shot, what are you going to do? It's part of the game, heavyweights. Like I say all the time. This tonight, right, for everyone that said you're a favorite. champion. You're not a real champion. Can't question this one, right? You may question that light heavyweight title. You can question it to the grave, but I have something completely

separate from him. And I'm very grateful for it because everything was tied to that guy. No matter how much I beat everybody up, it was always, whoa, you lost to Jones. Now in this heavyweight division, a division that I never got to compete in and complete my journey in, I went and I completed and became the champ. So I'm a champion. I am one of the greatest fighters of all time. And you're right. I love DJ and I love GSP. And it's going to be one of the three of us.

Earlier on the card, Nganu returned to face top-ranked Texan brawler Derek Lewis. I mean, there you are. Now you're sitting right next to Stipe again. And, you know, things worked out that way. I want to ask if you're excited to kind of have this shot again, if you think, you know, maybe an impressive performance against Derek would give you a chance to maybe go against this guy again. Yes.

I mean, I'm really exciting to get back in the Autagon. You know, I lost my last fight against Stipe. And then it was a great performance for Stipe. But I learned a lot about that fight. I'm pretty sure that the match will be different. I'll do better than I did the last time. And I would do great. Ngano drops his second straight decision loss.

You just thoughts on Francis Ngano. I mean, he had so much momentum behind him going into the steep fight, shows the flaws in his game a little bit, then comes back and has this fight where he throws, you know, 17 strikes the entire fight, something like that. Where do you feel a guy like that goes from here? Horrible. You know, I think that, you know, he had a pretty quick rise here. And obviously, the fight over Alistar Overeem, you know, catapulted him. You know, everybody was talking about him. I thought he was going to be the next guy.

I think his ego ran away with him big time. I can tell you that his ego absolutely didn't run away with it. And the minute that happens to you in the fight game, you see what happens, start to fall apart. I had some personal encounters with him, as did other people in the organization. And this guy's ego just was so out of control. It's like before the steep fight, he took off and went to France. Didn't even really train for that fight. And you see the results.

Well, then he comes back and he did train, but I just, ego is what hurt Francis Nganyu. November 24th, 2018, UFC Fight Night 141, Blades v. Nganu 2. Beijing, China. Now riding a two-fight losing streak, Francis Ngano returns to the cage to face Curtis Blades in a rematch. Nganu gets back to his winning ways

by knocking out blades only 45 seconds into round one. February 17, 2019, UFC on ESPN won. Ngano versus Velasquez, Phoenix, Arizona. The Predator is booked in another main event. Ngano will face former heavyweight champion, Kane Velasquez. You just had your first face off with Kane Velasquez, I think, so far in the lead-up to this fight. It was very friendly. I was surprised by that.

What did you see when you were looking in his eyes? No, you know, this fight is not like, we are no enemy. I mean, I'm his fan, kind of like his friend, you know. So I love what he has done for the sport. I love how he made his career. Also, I think that might be why I want to fight. I wanted to fight him, fight him since a long time ago, you know, just to say that, okay, the guy like this, if you get a fight against him, that means you are in the top.

And then also if you win, it's too many lot. You know, if you want to be a great fighter, you have to face the greatest one. Maybe be the greatest one there. Francis knocks out Kane in under 30 seconds. This would be Velazquez's final MMA fight. I feel happy, very happy, you know. I don't know why for some of them. For some reason, I was happy the whole week.

You know, it's kind of like I felt it. I just came here to have fun and then to enjoy my fight. Now I'm really happy how it ends up with the victory. So I'm just going to look forward for the next, which is title shot. When you project you say you want to get a title shot and you look, Obviously, you had trouble with Steppe's wrestling and, you know, Daniel's a wrestler as well. How do you know that you'll be able to change the outcome? Like, how will you change the outcome if you go up against Daniel or Steve A again?

Just as a reminder, Ken was wrestler. Gertisplace was a wrestler. There were a lot of wrestlers on my record, you know. So I did with that. And then he tried. they always try your wrestling, you know. And did you feel like confident going in, knowing his takedowns and everything, did you feel like, hey, if in fact he did shoot, you would be able to stuff that take down

and keep the fight on the feet? Yes. You know, like my wrestling is not as good as his own and then I'm not expected to have a wrestling or like this guy that have a wrestle for his entire life. But also I'm now getting more confidence because, you know, I know that if we go to the ground, I'm going to make it. You know, I have no doubt about it. I'm improving my ground game very well. And you're going to have a chance to see it.

June 26, 2019, UFC on ESPN 3, Nganu versus Dos Santos, Minneapolis, Minnesota. is booked in his third straight fight night main event, this time against another former champion, Junior Dos Santos. The predator knocks out JDS one minute and 11 seconds into the opening round. August 17, 2019, UFC 21, Cormier v. Miochich 2, Anaheim, California. Daniel Cormier will attempt to defend his heavyweight title in a rematch against the person he took it from, Steepay Miyochich. Mr. Cormié, they say that no two fights are the same.

Obviously, you're looking for the same result, second time around. How's this one going to be different when you face Steepi second time round? You know, when I was getting ready to fight with Lesnar and Steepay was just kind of like putting up those random pitches of him punching me, I just was like, well, you know, obviously I got the last punch or like five or six. But I understand that he's going to be better. But I just, when I think about the fight and the little bit of time that we fought before, I just don't think he's good enough to beat me.

I mean, I just don't. You know, I think he's a good champion. I think he's a good fighter. I just don't think he's good enough to beat me. And whether it's 25 minutes or two rounds, I'm still going to win the fight. Question for Stepe, obviously after that. Could we get a response to that? And also, what are you going to do differently

to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself? I don't know, I mean, you just said it right there. I'm not good enough. I'm a good fighter, but not to his level. We'll definitely see August 17th, trust me. Lots change. Got my mind right, where I'm walking out with the belt wrapped right away, it's no question.

I think steep may, you know, In the buildup to this fight, you know, there are a lot of things that have been said. And I feel he was fighting well. I do. You know, he took me down. He hit me with some good shots. But when you listen to him talk, it's almost like I just landed a lucky punch. Like I wasn't very competitive.

I think if that's the mindset that he's trained with, I think it's a massive mistake. I was very honest with myself that he hit me. I mean, one time he hit me with two right hands back to back, and I didn't go down. That right hand landed on a lot of heavyweights, and they went to sleep. That's why I was so worried. I was like, man, if this dude lands his right hand, I'm going to bed.

But then he hit me with it. And one time he hit me, and I wasn't even looking at him. And it just landed clean on the button. And I was like, oh, still here? Yeah, I go, still in Vegas? Where am I? But he, he landed. But I think I felt he,

feels that he was giving his best. And if that was his best, it's not enough. Steppe Miochich defeats Daniel Kormier by TKO late in the fourth round. Miochich evens the series and regains his UFC heavyweight championship belt. I felt like I was doing pretty good. Uh, yeah, I felt like I was doing pretty good. But then he, uh, he landed, he landed that. shot in the fourth round land is with good body punches and he landed the right hand that I didn't see and he got to finish he did a great job what do you think made that approach so effective like were you tiring at that point maybe that's why the body work works so well in the fourth as opposed to maybe

earlier in the fight I kind of I mean I kind of took the pressure off a little bit I don't know I don't know why like maybe try to take a maybe try to like rest and recover for the fifth round because he wasn't going anywhere I don't know what the reasoning behind it was um but obviously it was a mistake. It's not about like the shots that you take, you know, it's the one that you just don't see coming. And that was a great combination by Steve Bay off of that body shot. He threw that one, two, right behind it.

And I didn't see it. You know, a lot of times I see punches and kind of roll with him so I don't take the full brunt of the punch, but on that one, he landed, he landed perfect. You had success in the first round with wrestling. Yeah. A nice slam and you were in top control. Do you think about going back to that?

Was that part of the strategy or you didn't really go back to you? That was the strategy. You know, my, that's probably the biggest letdown is how I let my coaches down. They were begging me to wrestle. And that's probably the most disappointing is that I didn't do what I was trained to do. And I feel like I let my coach. now let him down. Was there any reason why you can go back to it just to end in the moment?

You know, I think when you start finding success and landing things, you just kind of fall in love with it. You know, I feel it feels like the Gustafson fight all over again when I wrestled a lot in the first round, and for the last four rounds, I just didn't. They were begging me to do it then, but tonight I actually paid the ultimate price for not listening to my coaches. You really pretty good about doing that.

You went to the body shots. But did the corner tell you that or was that something instinctively that you saw? I mean, it's something I saw. I actually talked to my cordial in a week about it. I was like, man, I was like, I remember his arms up when he throws punches or box punches. And I was like, you know what? I mean, no one really tests his body. I'm going to start going.

And I remember when Anderson Silfite at USC 200, you call him with a body shot at the kick. I'm like, you know what? It's a little weaker than I thought, you know. So I had him with a couple of minutes. I saw him wins. All week, you seem to be making googly eyes at your daughter. We sell you at the way in. We saw you at the day in.

Beautiful, would you? How much was she in your mind as you were in the gate? She's always in my mind. It's my homie, my sidekick. You know, no matter what I happen in this fight game, I'm going out there, I'm going to fight. When lose or draw, I'm swinging, I'm going out there. But as long as I know, I'm going home with my daughter until I care about.

You had, I think, the second largest statistical comeback in a championship fight in terms of being outlanded and then finishing the fight. What's going through your mind, you know, when maybe you're getting hit a lot, you hit you with a lot of big shots? What was going through your mind at those points? I was playing like a bitch. I was playing like a bitch. It really was.

And, you know, I'd take nothing from DC, man. Dude's tough. You know, he's like the best really. He'd beat the best in the world. And, you know, I just, finally, you know, it took me a little time to get, like, my mojo. And I just couldn't feel it. It just couldn't be in.

And my one coach somebody, man, when you walked out fourth round, I knew it was gonna be over. He's like, I'd just see your face, the way your swag or your hips are moving. He's gonna do it was gonna be good. You said you don't wanna think about what's next, but I know DC tried to kind of stick it to you a little bit about waiting out for the rematch and all that kind of stuff.

If he does choose to continue fighting, is there any party that kind of wants to stick it back to him a little bit? Yeah, I mean, whatever, man, I'm down for whatever. But like right now, I just want to get to rest. I want to heal up. I'm going to be 37 on Monday. I feel like I'm 98 right now. And, yeah, we'll figure it out. So, like, there's a lot of reasons why I wanted his flight.

Honestly, I think about him one and one. There's a lot of reasons. Not only this about me, but it was a lot about me. But, like, I just knew as a better player. But then, like, I wanted to show my daughter that, you know, times get tough, you know, something's what happens. You just gotta get back up

and just, you know, dust yourself off. And then also, a bunch of you guys at the station's kids, when I lost, they cried. They all crying, and that really bothered me. You know, I mean, it just, it just irked me.

Not in a bad way. I just, you know, I'm like, listen, you know, and then I want to show them, like, listen, sometimes, like, like, just my daughter, sometimes it doesn't happen,

but you just gotta, you know, there's a lot of reasons why I just, I wanted to play. It's more for me too, I think it was a better player, but, And for my daughter to show her that, like, you know, he's at top, you know, adversity, it's okay. You know, he's got to push through.

But also, a bunch of the guys in the fire station kids were crying after I lost. And I'm like, how it happens, you know, life. I was like, it's okay. I'm going to show him that, listen, you're fine. Get back, get it back. When did it, the legacy become important to you? I think he's my daughter, you know, and you show her that, like, you know, like, listen, your dad, that was a tough dude, you know.

When I was turned, you know, you got beat up a couple times and he beat a couple guys up, you know, and just he did well at it. He was good at what he did. And that's my sure of that. No matter what you're doing life, we work high and you, you build your legacy, no matter what it is. May 9, 2020, UFC 249, Ferguson versus Gachi, Jacksonville, Florida. Ngano returns to the cage to face undefeated striker, Jarzino Rosenstruck.

The testing process that you went through with coronavirus testing ahead of the fight when you arrived yesterday, what was that like for you? The thing in the nose It's not a good shit That was the second time that I did it And it wasn't It's good at all It's too weird

I think I'd rather take a punch than take that shit Nganu knocks out Biggie Boy in 20 seconds That is four straight knockout victories Over top 10 heavyweights and under four minutes of in-cage action for the predator. Honestly, I don't know what is up next. I think I'm going to let my manager talk with the UFC and see how he goes and see what they say.

It's very confusing because right now, yes, we know that Stipe is going to fight D.C., but the question is when. This is May, beginning of May, and we don't know when. And I have to wait that fight and expect that the winner doesn't get injured or get hurt. Then he will go take some rest because maybe vacation and then come back. Maybe after two, three months and then go to training camp. I will end up with maybe another nine months or one year again, like this time,

which is something that I didn't like at all. I don't want to be in that space again. August 15th, 2020, UFC 252, Miochich versus Cormier 3, Las Vegas, Nevada. D.C. will attempt to take back the UFC Heavyweight Championship from the man who took it from him almost one year ago to the day, Steepi Miochich. This time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trilogy will be held at the UFC apex in front of a central personnel only. You've been thinking about this guy for almost like three years at this point. What's it like to finally know that you're nearing the end of that? Thank God we're done with this,

you know. It's been great and been fun and I'm going on, you know, rubber match, whatever wants the trilogy, you know, but when it's all sending down, it's going to be over. We're both competitors and we don't want to lose. I mean, I like winning. Like I said, I train my butt off to be where I'm at and I'm not giving it up. You know, I work too hard to give it up. I put a lot of time, but not just me with my coaches. They get away from their families. Their families with them go away with me to these camps or go to train somewhere. And then it's just, you know, it's not just me.

It's all of us. In a fight marred by eyepokes, Miochich defeats Kormier by decision and retains his title. Could have did better. You know, there's a lot of things that didn't do great. But I mean, listen, that's when he had two guys that fought each other three times, it's going to happen, you know. Nothing's going to go perfect.

But I'm happy I didn't start slow, you know. I was happy when I got taken down, I got right back up and, you know, I fought the takedown. It was all good, man. Obviously, his eyesight's a little bit impaired. I'm curious, I mean, obviously you've been through that as well. So knowing that, I mean, do you feel bad that that happened? Is it just part of the fight game? What's your feelings on that?

Well, I felt bad. It wasn't trying to be intentional. I even told him like 45 times I said, I'm sorry during the fight. Even during the fight, I'm like, hey, I'm sorry. I mean, but what you do? He did it to me, you mean, multiple times, you know, whatever. He said it wasn't on purpose. Like mine wasn't on purpose.

I wasn't timed to you. I honestly didn't realize I poked me. I looked up and I saw it on the replay. I'm like, oh, I totally poked me eye. That was my bad. And the eye poked that he gave you in the first round. How did that one vary from the other ones? He's given you the other fights.

I mean, it hurt. I felt bad I gave him one. I didn't realize I did. Honestly, I was not trying to. Until I looked up and saw replaying between rounds. I felt bad about it. It was non-intentional. But it hurt, but I was good.

I needed some time. We just burned for a little bit and I was good. Congress. March 27th, 2021. UFC 260. Miochich versus Ngano, 2. Las Vegas, Nevada. Stipey Miochich will attempt to defend his title

against the man he defeated back in January 2018, Francis the Predator Nganu, as the main event in front of limited media and personnel at the UFC Apex. To the Vox Media Podcast Network.