Ahead of every UFC battle card, Jay Primetown of MMA Oddsbreaker takes a peek at some of the key competitions at every event. In the most recent installment, we look at the main event of UFC 220 since Stipe Miocic defends his heavyweight championship against Francis Ngannou. This is Francis Ngannou’s first 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 life 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. 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 well-rounded athletes at the division. In addition to wrestling, he also played baseball in school, even drawing interest from a Major League Baseball teams. In regards to MMA, he has an amateur boxing background competing at the Golden Gloves competition. Miocic is a fantastic striker having strong hands and operates a very large rate to get a heavyweight landing a whopping 5.15 significant strikes a minute. In contrast, he is just absorbing 3.30 significant strikes per minute with 61 percent defense that is striking.
Miocic mixes his striking wrestling grading over two takedowns each 15 minutes inside the octagon. Miocic is not the division’s hardest puncher, but he moves very well and has shown an ability to avoid taking much harm. Miocic includes a good motor complete and can even work a decent pace late in fights. On the side, competitions can hurt him. He was amazed by Overeem just a few bouts past, so that is something to watch for moving ahead.
Francis Ngannou (Record: 11-1, -175 Favorite, Power Ranking: A+)
On a six battle winning streak to begin his UFC career, Francis Ngannou has quickly risen to be a true threat to Stipe Miocic’s crown. He’s finished all six of his UFC opponents with his past four victories 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 as he picked up odd jobs here and there before he joined up at MMA Factory and turned into a fighter. He never return and began fighting professionally in 2013.
The 6’4″ heavyweight has among the longest reaches in MMA at 83″ inches. His output is small for a heavyweight at 3.41 significant strikes per minute. He’s got substantial power in his hands (seven career knockouts), but he is not a fighter who looks to brawl. He is fairly patient timing his opportunities. He will go for it, when a finish is sensed by him.
From an athletic standpoint, he’s about as good as there is at the UFC. He’s muscular, extremely powerful, and agile. He’s a fighter that could do things that other fighters can’t do inside the Octagon. The majority of his endings have come early in fights; Ngannou hasn’t yet been pushed yet so it’s a complete unknown what sort of pace he’d struggle at if pushed into the championship rounds. His takedown defense is decent, but it’s not elite so he can be carried down to the mat by wrestling concentrated fighters.
On the toes, his chin has seldom been analyzed. His striking defense is excellent absorbing only 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 quickly and ended up dropping by doctor stoppage. That is the only time he’s been contested. Perhaps that was a rare moment of weakness or a fluke. Until he is analyzed again, it will be tough to tell the way he deals with adversity.

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