UFC 260: Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou Picks and Predictions

Francis Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic

Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10:00 PM (UFC APEX)

The Line: -- Francis Ngannou -120 / Stipe Miocic +100 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou face off on Saturday for the heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 260 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

These two faced off back in January of 2018 and Miocic got that fight to the ground six times which was the difference as the champion came away with a victory.

Stipe Miocic comes into this fight with a 20-3 record overall and each of his last seven fights have been for a title belt. In Miocic’s last fight against Daniel Cormier in August of 2020 and he was able to come away with the unanimous decision. Miocic had two knockdowns in that fight and that was the difference. Miocic comes into this fight averaging 4.90 significant strikes per minute while he absorbs 3.75 significant strikes per minute. Miocic does a good job of getting the fight to the ground and he is coming into this one he is averaging 1.92 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. Miocic is only successful on 34 percent of his takedown attempts. Miocic also does a good job of keeping the fight on the feet if he wants to, stopping 70 percent of his opponents takedown attempts. In this fight, Miocic needs to make sure he avoids the big punch that could knock him out.

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On the other side of this matchup is Francis “The Predator” Ngannou who comes into this game with a 15-3 record overall and he has won four fights in a row. Ngannou’s last fight came against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in May of 2020 and it was 20 seconds into that fight that he was able to win by knockout. Each of the last four wins has been by knockout in the first 1:20 of the fight. Ngannou is averaging 2.23 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.03 significant strikes per minute. Ngannou wants to keep the fight on the feet and he is averaging 0.00 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. Ngannou is also stopping 71 percent of his opponents takedown attempts.

Ngannou has the knockout power and that is something that has stopped Miocic before. I’m not sure it will happen as early as Ngannou is used to, but he is going to land one of those big punches and finish the fight. Back Ngannou on the money line and a few dollars on Ngannou to win by knockout.

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