SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
When one thinks of a heavyweight champion, they must possess not only the strength of an ox, but they must pose themselves as a gentlemen outside combat territory. Stipe Miocic is the UFC heavyweight champion, the undisputed king who embodies all that a champion should.
Stipe won the belt in Brazil last year against formidable contender Fabricio Werdum, a man with the single deadliest ground game in mixed martial arts...period. Stipe not only knocked him out in the first round, but he went on to avenge his loss to Junior Dos Santos and the likes of veteran Alistair Overeem.
The two fight win streak leads Stipe into treacherous territory as he faces his most stern, and dangerous test. With a third consecutive defense of the UFC heavyweight title, Stipe will set the record for most defenses and longest time as champion...a truly incredible feat.
With big men it only takes one punch, and each defense can be so costly in terms of a lasting career. The damage a heavyweight takes and gives in a single five round fight can create ripples which begin the end of a career. Many all time greats have succumb to damage over time...Cain Velasquez being a prime example.
With a win over Francis Ngannou, Stipe would not only be the lineal and undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, he would also have run out of contenders and challengers to make an interesting fight. With a record set and the most dangerous of the division dispatched, Stipe would be truly untouchable.
UFC 220 brings us a new era vs. the old era, even the co main event in Cormier vs. Oezdimir brings in a new style heavy hitter vs. the old school grinder. I think both champions will retain and head down their road to greatness, but an upset wouldn't be the biggest surprise...these are the baddest men on the planet.
