When Stipe Miocic suffered a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 again in 2021, he thought a trilogy struggle was inevitable.
Contemplating Miocic manhandled Ngannou of their first encounter three years earlier, it wasn’t a surprising request that he would get the rubber match to settle the trilogy. Sadly for Miocic, Ngannou ended up going through Ciryl Gane as an alternative 9 months later, aggravated a knee damage within the course of after which sat out to recuperate from surgical procedure earlier than getting into free company.
Ultimately, Ngannou surrendered the UFC heavyweight title and opted to signal with the PFL whereas additionally crossing over to boxing for a pair of fights towards Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“I used to be attempting. I used to be attempting to get the rematch,” Miocic mentioned about pursuing the Ngannou trilogy when talking to MMA Preventing. “Then he left and it didn’t occur sadly.
“Pay attention, I’m a fighter. I don’t work for the UFC internally and [figuring] out matchmaking. It’s what they wished to do and it’s what they did.”
As a lot as Miocic wished that third struggle towards Ngannou, he can’t fault the previous UFC heavyweight champion for opting to take a deal that may permit him to dwell out his dream within the boxing ring and receives a commission a complete lot of cash to do it.
“Yeah after all [I was bummed] as a result of I wished the rubber match,” Miocic mentioned. “But in addition on the identical level, he’s doing higher for himself and his household. I’m not mad at him. He’s doing nice.”
In his two fights crossing over to boxing, Ngannou took Fury to a razor-close resolution loss after scoring a surprising knockdown on the previous heavyweight champion. Issues didn’t go as nicely towards Joshua after Ngannou suffered a pair of knockdowns earlier than being completed with a vicious punch within the second spherical.
Miocic, a Golden Gloves boxer in his youth, admits he didn’t watch each of Ngannou’s fights, however he was nonetheless proud to see his former rival getting the prospect to compete towards two of the very best heavyweights within the sport.
“I noticed clips of it,” Miocic mentioned in regards to the boxing matches. “The primary one he did nicely with Fury and sadly the second didn’t go nicely with Joshua. Nevertheless it occurs. It’s combating, something can occur.
“Some folks mentioned he received [against Fury]. I didn’t see the entire struggle however lots of people mentioned he received the struggle. He put him down. He did a variety of issues. Pay attention, he satisfied that many individuals that he might [beat him]. Reveals that we will dangle.”
Ngannou returned to MMA this previous October when he made brief work of Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut. As of now, he’s undecided on what comes subsequent.
With alternatives accessible in each boxing and MMA, Ngannou can basically decide or select no matter he desires to do, but it surely appears extremely unlikely {that a} return to the UFC ever occurs. Ngannou stays at odds with UFC CEO Dana White and seems glad controlling his personal future.
Which means there’s little to no probability that Miocic ever will get to settle the rating. As a lot as he as soon as wished the trilogy, he’s resolved in realizing that his rivalry with Ngannou ends at one win apiece.
“Pay attention, I’m OK with letting go,” Miocic mentioned. “I get it. As a lot as I’d like to struggle him, I want him nothing however the very best and it’s what it’s. We’re 1-1. That’s the way in which will probably be. He received the final one sadly.”
