LAS VEGAS — Francis Ngannou is the new UFC heavyweight champ after stopping Northeast Ohio native Stipe Miocic with a round of heavy blows in the second round at UFC 260.
Ngannou avenged his blowout loss to Miocic in 2018 by demonstrating everything he has learned in the ensuing three years. The first UFC heavyweight champion from Africa flattened Miocic twice early in the second, finishing the fight Saturday night 52 seconds into the round.
After Ngannou won the first round, Miocic recovered from his first knockdown in the second round and even landed a right hand that stung Ngannou. The challenger replied with a picture-perfect left hook and dropped Miocic to the canvas again for the finish.
Despite the loss, Miocic walks away from the fight as one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time and still made Cleveland proud.
Ngannou said after the fight that he's ready to fight in July or August, looking to take on Jon "Bones" Jones.
