Prior to every UFC battle card, Jay Primetown of all MMA Oddsbreaker have a look at some of the key contests at every event. In the latest installment, we consider the main event of UFC 220 as Stipe Miocic defends his heavyweight championship against Francis Ngannou. This is Francis Ngannou’s initial major 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 has been on a tear, winning his last five fights as a decision loss to Junior dos Santos in 2014. He enters Saturday’s title fight on the back of a knockout victory over dos Santos in their rematch in May 2017. If Miocic beats dos Santos, then he’ll break the record for consecutive title defenses at heavyweight with three.
Miocic is among the most athletes at the division. In addition to wrestling, he also played baseball in school, even drawing attention from some Major League Baseball teams. In reference to MMA, he’s got an amateur boxing history competing at the Golden Gloves competition. Miocic is a fantastic striker having strong hands and works a very high pace to get a heavyweight landing a whopping 5.15 significant strikes a minute. In comparison, he’s only absorbing 3.30 significant strikes per second with 61 percent defense that is striking.
Miocic mixes his striking with wrestling grading over two takedowns each 15 minutes inside the octagon. Miocic isn’t the branch’s hardest puncher, but he moves really well and has shown an ability to avoid taking much harm. Miocic has a good motor complete and may even work an adequate pace late in battles. On the side, competitions can hurt him. He was stunned by Overeem only a couple bouts ago, so that’s something to watch for moving forward.
Francis Ngannou (Record: 11-1, -175 Favorite, Power Ranking: A+)
On a six fight winning streak to begin his UFC career, Francis Ngannou has quickly risen to be a true threat to Stipe Miocic’s crown. He has finished all six of his UFC competitions with his last four successes all coming within the opening two minutes of these bouts.
The Cameroon born heavyweight began training in boxing in his native Cameroon before proceeding to France at the age of 22. He had been homeless for a time period, residing in the streets of Paris because he picked up odd jobs here and there until he joined up in MMA Factory and developed into a fighter. He never return and started fighting professionally in 2013.
The 6’4″ heavyweight has one of the longest reaches in MMA in 83″ inches. His output is modest for a heavyweight at 3.41 significant strikes per minute. He has heavy power in his hands (seven career knockouts), but he’s not a fighter that looks to brawl. He’s fairly patient timing his opportunities. When he senses a finish, he will do it.
From an athletic standpoint, he’s about as good as there is at the UFC. He is muscular, exceptionally powerful, and agile. He’s a fighter which could do things that other fighters cannot do inside the Octagon. The majority of his finishes have come in fights; Ngannou hasn’t yet been pushed yet so it’s a complete unknown what kind of pace he’d struggle at if pushed into the championship rounds. His takedown defense is decent, but it is not elite so he could be taken down to the mat by wrestling focused fighters.
His brow has seldom been analyzed. His striking defense is excellent absorbing just 1.46 significant strikes per minute with 60percent defense that is striking. He was staggered by Curtis Blaydes in his second UFC struggle, but recovered fast and ended up dropping by doctor stoppage. That is the only time. That was a rare moment of even a fluke or weakness. Until he is tested again, it will be tough to tell how he deals with adversity.
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