Stipe Miocic’s win at UFC 220 cements him as the GOAT

DANIEL CORMIER retained his UFC light-heavyweight title with a second-round win over Volkan Oezdemir and shook of the stench of his last Jon Jones fight. The match-up was held inside the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Miocic looks to break the UFC title defense record for the heavyweight division.

Not only did he win, he did so decisively. Without much action the ref broke them up, restarting the pair in the center of the octagon.

Miocic kicked low early, then ate a body kick from Ngannou. But the technique and stylistic tendencies of Miocic should push this one a little further than many expect and allow the 35-year old champ to catch the challenger with his counter striking.

Unlike a Mark Hunt or a Derrick Lewis, we are also not talking about a lumbering big man with a big right or a left hand.

The Cleveland native absorbed Ngannou’s hardest shots, returned fire and leaned heavily on his wrestling en route to a dominant decision win. Using a single neck tie, Cormier uses hooks and uppercuts to beat up his challenger. Ngannou was back to a knee along the fence, with Miocic throwing punches, elbows and knees to end out the round. With tension I the air so tight you could hear a ping drop, Miocic and Ngannou simultaneously landed blows, sending the crowd to their feet. A takedown less than a minute into the second round put the light heavyweight champion in side control, from where he secured a crucifix that allowed him to unleash vicious ground-and-pound that made a stoppage a formality. After the second one, Ngannou began firing haymakers, putting the champion on the defensive before he found an opening to get a couple of his own shots off. That could help if this fight goes long, though both men are looking for a quick KO. Miocic, who was bruised under the left eye, stayed patient, pecking away with kicks to the leg. Miocic weathered his attacks in the first round, where he absorbed a few jarring punches while forcing the challenger to swing and miss wildly with others. All three judges scored it for Miocic, 50-45. Ngannou was on one knee as Miocic kept his weight on him, sapping the Cameroonian’s strength and endurance. He went for the rear-naked choke, but there wasn’t enough time in the round. The two separated shortly after. Levi & Shaq give their bets, picks, and analysis on the full UFC 220 fight card. The round ended with Miocic on top. And while he was exhausted, his punches still had dynamite on them, leading Miocic to score another takedown.