Cameroonian in pursuit of the heavyweight UFC title

Cameroonian fighter Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic will go to war once more in their highly anticipated heavyweight title clash at UFC 260.

The pair went to battle now three years ago in 2018, when champion Miocic silenced any doubters with a unanimous points decision win over his heavyweight rival.

Sportsmail gave a thorough analysis of the upcoming rematch.

Miocic was able to take Ngannou's best shots in their first encounter, but whether that will still be the case after his epic trilogy with Daniel Cormier remains to be seen.

The American, who initially lost his heavyweight belt to Cormier, won it back in their second bout, before retaining his title in August last year.

However, Miocic required surgery on his eye following his second bout with Cormier, and with the UFC legend now 38-years-old, perhaps Ngannou's power will be more telling this time around.

Miocic vs Ngannou (©Mike Lawrie/Gallo Images)

Though it was Miocic who dominated their first encounter - and while it would not be at all surprising to see the same outcome unfold - Ngannou will come in with plenty of confidence on the back of four successive knockout wins.

The highly-anticipated showdown between Miocic and Ngannou takes place today March 27th at the Apex in Las Vegas.

Francis Ngannou

Age: 34

Nationality: Cameroonian-French

Height: 193cm

Record: 15W, 3L

Knockouts: 11

Stance: Orthodox

Stipe Miocic

Age: 38

Nationality: American

Height: 193cm

Record: 20W, 3L

Knockouts: 15

Stance: Orthodox

Speaking at the UFC 260 press conference ahead of the fight, Ngannou insisted he does not recognise the man who lost first time round to Miocic, admitting he finds it difficult to watch back.

'I remember the first fight from the preparation,' he said. 'I'm not taking credit off Stipe, he was the better fighter that night but I hate watching that fight because I don't recognise myself, the way that I'm fighting, I'm rushing.

'That guy looks like me but I don't recognise him. I made a lot of mistakes leading up to that fight and I wasn't myself.

'I didn't even have emotion in that fight, I was just there. This time, things will be different, I had enough time with my team to put everything down right.'

With Ngannou on an impressive knockout streak, Miocic does acknowledge that he's going to be in with an improved fighter this time around. However, the American insists he will get the job done regardless.

'He's definitely got better,' the champion said. 'We all evolve, he's evolved and of course I knew I'd probably see him down the road after the first fight.

'Listen, it will be a hell of a fight on Saturday. He has evolved you can tell, but I’m here to extinguish him again.'

The fighters have weighed in ahead of their showdown and both looked in top condition on stage, with the challenger carrying a size advantage into the fight.

Ngannou tipped the scales at 119 kg, exactly the same weight as last time when he was roundly beaten on the scorecards back in 2018.

Miocic is a little bit heavier than the first encounter (106 kg) but still remains the lighter man.

The Cameroonian power puncher may be the same physically as last time but plenty has changed in his mind.

Miocic vs Ngannou (©Mike Lawrie/Gallo Images)

After following up the defeat by Miocic with a dreadfully trigger-shy defeat by Derrick Lewis, Ngannou went on the rampage, winning his next four fights by first-round KO.

Whether he can make it five against the consensus greatest heavyweight in MMA history is another matter altogether.

Miocic is a humble champion and hardly the poster boy the UFC would like but he is a phenomenal fighter in all areas and if he can survive the early onslaughts will be heavy favourite to retain his belt.

The heavyweight title fight tops a superb card in Las Vegas and the victor is highly likely to face Jon Jones in a massive encounter next.