Daniel Cormier has suggested that he’d be willing to fight Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight title if current champion Stipe Miocic decides he doesn’t want to defend his belt in the near future.
Miocic had recently indicated that he may sit out until after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, which didn’t appear to go down well with Dana White who hinted he could be stripped of the belt if he didn’t defend it, which has prompted Cormier to suggest an alternative opponent.
“If Stipe won’t fight, then Francis Ngannou has earned a title fight,” Cormier said in the UFC 249 post-fight show after watching Ngannou KO Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds. “If somebody is fighting Francis Ngannou for the title, it’s going to be me.
“All respect in the world to Francis Ngannou, but I’m not afraid of anyone. I’ll fight anybody on any planet.
“I love Francis, I think he’s a sweetheart person. I would love to do my trilogy with Stipe Miocic, but if Stipe won’t fight, they’re going to take his belt just like Henry (Cejudo) gave up his and they’re going to make a fight between Francis and I for the belt. It’s as simple as that.
However, which DC has indicated that he will hang up his gloves regardless of who he faces next, his preference remains to complete his trilogy fight with Miocic.
“I would rather fight the trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic, I think that for everything we have meant to each other with me winning one and him winning one. That would be great for me.
But if he doesn’t want to fight I want to fight my last fight. I want to fight whoever. And if it’s Francis Ngannou then I guess that’s who it’s going to be.”
Since White’s comments regarding potentially stripping him of the title, Miocic has spoken out again to suggest he is in talks with the UFC and may return soon, but time will tell if something can be arranged that is in everyone’s best interests.
