UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is ready to get back in the swing of things.
Miocic regained his heavyweight title following an epic comeback victory against Daniel Cormier in their rematch at UFC 241 in August.
He has been on the sidelines since after suffering a major retina injury stemming from an eye poke from Cormier during the fight. However, things are all healed up as of a week ago.
“Better. A lot better,” Miocic said of his eye at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. “It’s healed up. Taking my time with it because I’m 37.
“I don’t want to injure it again. I want to be able to see out of both eyes when I’m older. I love fighting but my health’s more important.”
Miocic’s next fight is expected to be a trilogy with Cormier according to UFC president Dana White. As of now, there is no update yet on when that fight can happen.
“No, not right now,” Miocic added when asked if there was an update. “I just got cleared so I’m taking my time, getting back to the swing of things. We’ll figure it out, see what happens.”
That said, though White has claimed the trilogy is next, Miocic isn’t ruling out the possibility of facing another opponent. At least, going by the UFC head honcho’s history of past comments.
“That’s what he [White] says. He says a lot of things that are not true.”
Could one of those opponents be Francis Ngannou? Most certainly.
“It could be. Who knows? Whoever they want me to fight, honestly. I don’t really care. I’ll put on a clinic on Ngannou again.”
Ngannou had been campaigning for a rematch with Miocic in recent months. “The Predator” is on a three-fight winning streak and was struggling to land an opponent until Jairzinho Rozenstruik stepped up to the plate.
The two hard-hitting heavyweights will collide at UFC Columbus on March 28. Maybe a win over “Bigi Boy” could get Ngannou the opportunity to exact his revenge on Miocic?