Ahead of each UFC battle card, Jay Primetown of all MMA Oddsbreaker takes a peek at some of the essential competitions at each function. In the most recent installment, we consider the primary event of UFC 220 since Stipe Miocic defends his heavyweight championship against Francis Ngannou. That is Francis Ngannou’s first main event and first time fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship, despite this, he is nevertheless the betting favorite.
Stipe Miocic (Record: 17-2, +165 Underdog, Power Ranking: A+)
The 35-year-old lifetime Ohio native was on a tear, winning his last five fights as a decision loss to Junior dos Santos at 2014. He enters Saturday’s title fight on the rear of a knockout victory over dos Santos in their rematch in May 2017. In case Miocic beats dos Santos, then he’ll break the record for consecutive title defenses at heavyweight using three.
Miocic is among the most athletes at the heavyweight division. In addition to wrestling, he played baseball in college, even drawing interest from some Major League Baseball teams. In regards to MMA, he’s got an amateur boxing history competing at the Golden Gloves competition. Miocic is a good striker having strong hands and operates a very large pace for a heavyweight landing a whopping 5.15 significant strikes a moment. In contrast, he is just absorbing 3.30 significant strikes per minute with 61 percent defense that is striking.
Miocic combines his striking with wrestling grading over two takedowns each 15 minutes inside the octagon. Miocic isn’t the division’s hardest puncher, but he moves really well and has proven an ability to prevent taking much harm. Miocic includes a good motor overall and can even work a decent pace late in fights. On the flip side, opponents can hurt him. He had been stunned by Overeem just a few bouts ago, so that’s something to watch for moving ahead.
Francis Ngannou (Record: 11-1, -175 Favorite, Power Ranking: A+)
On a six fight winning streak to begin his UFC career, Francis Ngannou has rapidly risen to be a real threat to Stipe Miocic’s crown. He’s finished all six of his UFC opponents with his last four successes all coming over the opening two minutes of those bouts.
The Cameroon born heavyweight began training in boxing in his native Cameroon before proceeding to France at age 22. He had been homeless for a time period, living in the streets of Paris because he picked up odd jobs here and there before he joined up in MMA Factory and developed into a fighter. He never turned back and started fighting professionally in 2013.
The 6’4″ heavyweight has among the longest reaches in MMA at 83″ inches. His output is small for a stride in 3.41 significant strikes every second. He’s got heavy power in his hands (seven career knockouts), but he’s not a fighter who appears to brawl. He’s fairly patient timing his chances. He’ll do it when he senses a finish.
From an athletic standpoint, he is about as good as there is at the UFC. He’s muscular, exceptionally powerful, and nimble. He’s a fighter that can do things that other fighters cannot do inside the Octagon. Most of his endings have come early in fights; Ngannou hasn’t been pushed yet so it’s a whole unknown what sort of pace he’d fight at if pushed into the championship rounds. His takedown defense is adequate, but it is not elite so he could be taken down to the mat by wrestling focused fighters.
His brow has been analyzed. His striking defense is outstanding absorbing only 1.46 significant strikes per minute with 60percent defense that is striking. He had been staggered by Curtis Blaydes in his second UFC fight, but recovered quickly and ended up dropping by doctor stoppage. That’s the only time he has been contested. Maybe that was a moment of weakness or even a fluke. Until he’s analyzed again, it will be tough to tell how he deals with adversity.
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