UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is still waiting on a new contract from Dana White and the UFC, but he’s still keeping a very close eye on the rising contenders in the division. Miocic last fought Junior dos Santos at UFC 211 this past May where he knocked out the Brazilian slugger in the first round, but says he’s ready to fight anyone in the UFC.
The next in line looks to be Francis Ngannou, whose looked nothing short of phenomenal during his UFC appearances so far, and Miocic seems open to the challenge if it’s what the UFC wants.
Miocic talked about the heavyweight title picture on “The MMA Hour” Monday afternoon.
“There are a lot of guys that are there already. In the heavyweight division anything can happen on any night, you know? That’s what’s scary about the division: no matter how good you are there is always somebody that can beat you. We haven’t talked about who the opponent is yet, but they’re thinking December or January so we’ll see.”
“I don’t know I’m not the UFC. If I was a matchmaker I wouldn’t be fighting, but (Ngannou) is a very tough guy,” he said of the 10-1 heavyweight. He’s been running through people and he’s getting better in every fight. He’s definitely a great up and comer and he’s got a great future ahead of him.”
Miocic maintains that he will fight any heavyweight challenger the UFC wants to put him in the octagon with him.
“Listen, whoever the UFC wants me to fight, I’ll fight – Overeem, or whoever’s next…Volkov…he’s a tough guy too, but I have a hard time saying his name for whatever reason. You know, or Cain, whoever they say I’m not going to back down.”
Of course former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is still lurking in the shadows as a top contender for the title, but injuries have plagues him in recent years.
“It would have been great to fight him because it would have been an amazing fight between us too,” said Miocic. We’re both wrestlers, we both push the pace, we’ve got great cardio and we like to stand and bang – it would have been an exciting fight. Unfortunately, he’s hurt right now. I hope he gets better because he’s a super nice guy.”
He even said that if they wanted to put together the rumored fight against Jon Jones, he would’ve gladly accepted that as well.
“I had no idea they were talking about it. Listen I’m usually last to know, which is fine. If they would’ve had me fight Jon Jones, I would have fought him. I don’t care but they never brought it to my attention. I had no idea I’m not joking.”
