Stipe Miocic wants to fight Francis Ngannou in trilogy as heavyweight reveals it ‘drives him nuts every day’ that he lost his title at UFC 260
- Stipe Miocic is hopeful of a trilogy bout with Francis Ngannou by early next year
- The American was brutally knocked out by Ngannou at UFC 260 in March
- Miocic beat the Cameroonian when the pair first fought at UFC 220 in 2018
- UFC president Dana White has suggested trilogy fight could happen in the future
Stipe Miocic has declared he wants to fight Francis Ngannou for a third time after losing his title in brutal fashion at UFC 260 in March.
The 38-year-old first fought Ngannou at UFC 220 in 2018, dominating the bout and winning by unanimous decision to defend his heavyweight title.
Miocic then fought Daniel Cormier three times, before rematching Ngannou earlier this year when he lost in devastating fashion in the second round.
Stipe Miocic has called for a trilogy fight with Francis Ngannou by the start of next year
Ngannou beat the American via a brutal second-round knockout earlier this year at UFC 260
But despite the manner of that defeat, the American is adamant he wants a trilogy bout and the chance to earn back the belt.
‘I want a rematch, and I wanna get my title back,’ Miocic told Submission Radio.
‘He took something that was mine, and it drives me nuts every day. I’m always fired up after a loss. I hate losing.
‘I’ve lost a few times, and just, I hate losing, it just drives me nuts. I hate losing. I’m very competitive and I like winning.’
Ngannou looks likely to next face Derrick Lewis, a man he lost to by unanimous decision three years ago when he was far more inexperienced in the octagon.
The Cameroonian looks set to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Derrick Lewis next
But the 34-year-old, who became the first UFC heavyweight champion from Africa with his win over Miocic earlier this year, has won all five of his bouts since.
UFC president Dana White has suggested Miocic could face the winner of Ngannou and Lewis, and the American heavyweight is hopeful that fight can take place by early 2022.
‘I really would love to fight Francis again for the rematch and get that ‘W’ back over him in the rubber match,’ Miocic said.
‘But yeah, I don’t care who it is. I’m not preferring anyone, but if I had a choice, I would want to fight Ngannou again.
‘Just because he beat me last time and took the belt. We’ll see when I get a rematch. Maybe early next year.’