UFC: Francis Ngannou concedes he ‘didn’t have enough experience’ in first title fight against Stipe Miocic

‘I learned a lot in that fight’ says French-Cameroonian Ngannou about loss to Miocic at UFC 220 in 2018

The 34-year-old says he only started fighting mixed martial arts in 2013 as a way to ‘survive’

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Francis Ngannou said he is a new fighter now heading into his rematch with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Photo: AP

Published: 5:39pm, 11 Feb 2021Updated: 5:38pm, 11 Feb 2021

Francis “The Predator” Ngannou said he lacked experience in his first fight against UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

Ngannou (15-3) lost to Miocic (20-3) at UFC 220 in Boston in January 2018. Miocic controlled most of the fight and won by unanimous decision after five rounds to defend his heavyweight title for the third time.

Now the two will square off for the second time at UFC 260 in Las Vegas on March 8. Ngannou spoke about the first encounter with the American, who is of Croatian descent, and is widely regarded as the greatest UFC heavyweight of all time.

“I had two different feelings from that fight,” said Ngannou on UFC commentator Joe Rogan’s podcast. “First, obviously I was very upset and disappointed that I didn’t win the fight … everyone who is fighting for the title wants to get out there and be victorious. But to be honest, I always look at that fight and see just after the fight, I look at it and I’m like ‘this is good’.”

The bout was the first time Ngannou had ever gone five rounds in a mixed martial arts contest. The French-Cameroonian said he was unsure of how to pace himself in a longer match against a much more experienced fighter in Miocic.

“I learned a lot, even though I was fighting for the world title. I still had some things missing from my game and my experience. And I remember I was questioning myself, like, ‘Okay, how does it look like to go into three rounds, and going into a potential five rounds that I have never been in?’”