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“I think Cormier is a bigger challenge for me than Stipe. I’ve been in there with Stipe and he couldn’t finish me.”
Francis Ngannou might be hoping for a rematch with Stipe Miocic over former UFC two-division champ Daniel Cormier, as ‘The Predator’ believes ‘DC’ could be the tougher matchup for him.
Speaking to BJPenn.com in a recent interview, Ngannou said he would be much more confident facing Miocic again rather than challenging Cormier for the UFC heavyweight title.
“Honestly, I am more confident in a rematch against Stipe than I am to fight Cormier,” I think Cormier is a bigger challenge for me than Stipe. I’ve been in there with Stipe and he couldn’t finish me. If that was DC he would’ve finished me. I was done, I couldn’t move and Stipe still couldn’t finish me. I think if I fight Stipe again, I’ll have more knowledge and how to beat him.”
Ngannou fought Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 220 but lost via unanimous decision. The Cameroonian knockout artist had some moments of success early on in the bout but ultimately found himself on the receiving end of a five-round beating. Ngannou dropped a lackluster unanimous decision to Derrick Lewis in his follow-up fight but rebounded with four-straight knockout victories over Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. The 33-year-old powerhouse is expected to fight the winner of the proposed heavyweight trilogy bout between Miocic and Cormier later this year, pending coronavirus.