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UFC champion Stipe Miocic put long layoff to good use ahead of defense against Francis Ngannou

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic put a long layoff to good use ahead of his defense against Francis Ngannou at UFC 220 in Boston Saturday.
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic put a long layoff to good use ahead of his defense against Francis Ngannou at UFC 220 in Boston Saturday.

CLEVELAND -- UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has not defended his title since last May, but he put that eight-month layoff to good use.

While the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s matchmakers figured out the contender rankings in the heavyweight division, Miocic put in work on his craft, honing his skills for the time when an opponent was chosen.

“Business as usual, just enjoying life, family, friends, getting better every day in the gym,” Miocic said in an exclusive interview with WKYC.com.

“Honestly, it’s really great. It’s just the way it worked out. There was really no contender, so I was just kind of waiting around. Now, with Francis Ngannou, he’s a super-tough guy, great competitor, so I’m excited for January 20.”

After waiting for seven months following the knockout of Junior dos Santos in Dallas last May, Miocic got an opponent for his third title defense, and it is none other than fast-rising striker Francis Ngannou in the main event of UFC 220 at the TD Garden in Boston Saturday.

Despite dispatching of two former UFC champions, dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum, as well as highly-decorated MMA practitioner Alistair Overeem in his last three fights, Miocic is considered the underdog heading into his defense against Ngannou.

But that is of little consequence to Miocic, a graduate of Eastlake North High School.

“I’m excited,” Miocic said. “Everyone loves him, is giving all this hype about him, which is fine. Another hype train for me to derail, another train for me to derail. I’m used to it by now. He’s a super-tough guy, like I said, but nothing I haven’t seen before. He hits hard, just like every heavyweight does, so I’m just going to be out there to do my game, be smart, and I’m just excited to fight, finally.”

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (red gloves) celebrates after he defeats Junior Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 211 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Miocic is particularly looking forward to derailing Ngannou’s “hype train” in front of the fans in Boston, a town with plenty of history in the fight game. But Miocic will be far from alone, as he is expecting a strong Cleveland contingent to be inside TD Garden.

And Miocic plans on sending his fans home to Cleveland happy.

“I’m excited,” Miocic said. “It’s such an historic place, and there’s going to be a lot of Cleveland people there.

“I’ve already gotten a lot of text messages from people that have gotten their tickets. It’s going to be a great night. As I walk out of the cage, you’re going to hear, ‘And Still’ with the belt still wrapped around my waist. Nothing’s going to change.”

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