Francis Ngannou targets Dec. 12 showdown with Stipe Miocic on ‘last PPV of the year’

Top UFC heavyweight contender and feared knockout artist Francis Ngannou is currently in talks with the UFC over a headlining title bout with Stipe Miocic on Dec. 12, per a recent interview with The Schmo.

“I requested for December 12, which is the last pay-per-view of the year,” Ngannou said of his all-but-confirmed rematch with Miocic (h/t Nicole Bosco of My MMA News). “Almost over two months from now and I’m expecting to have that date.”

Ngannou, 34, dropped a lopsided decision loss to Miocic at UFC 220 (2018) but has since rebounded with four consecutive knockout wins over Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. There was, of course, his painstakingly dull loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226, but it’s best not to speak of that.

Speaking of the rematch, ‘The Predator’ has vowed not to repeat the same mistakes and is confident in his preparation for Dec. 12.

“Work a lot on my game and get a better training camp,” Ngannou said. “And that will definitely not happen again. When I look back to that fight, I see a lot of opportunities that I could have had if I really was well prepared.”

Dec. 12 is currently reserved for UFC 256 which, as Ngannou correctly pointed out, is the last pay-per-view event of the year. UFC 256 is also expected to feature a welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, as well as a women’s featherweight title bout between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson.